Comments on: Indonesia and China killed the nickel market

By: Kierjay

Kierjay — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 00:47:37 +0000

Regarding the cited canadian nickel companies:

FPX is not a sulfide deposit, it is awaruite which has no proven path to battery grade nickel. It is being developed as a stainless deposit.

Canada nickel has “magnetite” as its primary output, not nickel. And the marketing section of their feasibility raises serious concerns, namely the fabulous payability expectations

There are better projects than the ones referenced in this article.

By: Hariadi

Hariadi — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 01:01:20 +0000

In reply to Emmjay.

I think the ideal solution for US nickel woes is just to wait till new tech comes out that use less or even zero nickel. Like LFP & sodium ion battery. EV battery tech is evolving at rapid pace and who knows what scientist may come up with. Indonesia’s nickel deposit is forecasted to be depleted in less than a decade from now. Last i heard they only have about 5-6 years left to mine them. So those countries that decide to freeze their mining operation might end up reaping economic benefit in the long run. Of course a lot of this sounds like coping…the fact is china still benefits the most. LOL. Indonesia too. Except that it will end up shouldering the environmental damage cost which let’s face it…not tangible enough to those making decision that live far from the mining operation…that they will lose their sleep over it.

By: Emmjay

Emmjay — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:27:49 +0000

Excellent article, the right amount of detail and technicals… nice work.
Only suggestion is after laying out the article, explore briefly the temporal variables, like the market in 5 to 10 yrs. The EV and Green Energy transformation is changing quickly, Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are rapidly replacing Lithium Ion batteries, and likely Sodium Ion will replace both on a large scale…so therefore a permanent loss of Nickel & Cobalt demand. Solid State batteries have even greater potential. So given the lifespans of Mines and Refineries a 5-10yr forecast of likely trends and impacts would be good to present.

By: Michael James Bue

Michael James Bue — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 02:41:21 +0000

lndonesia certainly has environmental issues with mining and processing Ni Laterite Ore but deep sea disposal of tailings is not happening. Many mines are operated illegally shipping Ni Ore to China at a higher price relative to domestic prices The illegal mining sites are abandoned without rehabilitation. The Indonesia Government is working to stop illegal mining but internal corruption hampers efforts.