Photo by: Lifezone Metals
Name of the Project
Kabanga nickel project.
Location
Ngara district of the Kagera region, western Tanzania.
Project Owner/s
Kabanga Nickel, a subsidiary of Lifezone Metals and BHP.
Project Description
Kabanga is the biggest, highest-grade development-ready nickel sulphide deposit in the world.
The project will be a cradle-to-gate mining operation, producing Class 1 nickel, cobalt and copper refined metals by adopting a hydrometallurgical processing technology that is more cost efficient than smelting, and has a significantly lower environmental impact.
The project, which has a life-of-mine of more than 30 years, aims to produce a minimum of 65 000 t/y of nickel equivalent, with further exploration upside potential.
Lifezone intends to use its proprietary hydrometallurgical process technology – Hydromet Technology – at the project, noting that it has the potential to be a more cost-efficient alternative to conventional smelting, with a significantly lower environmental impact.
Potential Job Creation
Not stated.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.
Capital Expenditure
Not stated.
Planned Start/End Date
First production is targeted for 2025.
Latest Developments
Lifezone Metals has started an offtake marketing process with regard to its nickel, copper and cobalt from the Kabanga nickel project.
This follows the company’s having previously entered into a business combination agreement with NYSE-listed GoGreen Investments.
Lifezone is aiming to support the clean energy transition through licensing its proprietary hydromet mineral processing technology as an alternative to smelting in metals production and becoming an emerging supplier of responsibly sourced, low-carbon and -sulphur dioxide emission metals to the battery, electric vehicle (EV) and hydrogen markets.
Lifezone is entitled to certain offtake marketing rights with regard to the Kabanga project and has retained the marketing rights for up to 40%, in aggregate, of the total contained nickel, cobalt and copper production from the project.
As a result of the interest in these products from original-equipment manufacturers, the company has started a process aimed at monetising the offtake from the Kabanga project.
RBC Capital Markets has been engaged to run a formal offtake marketing process.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
DRA Global (definitive feasibility study consulting engineer); and OreWin (lead mining consultant and qualified persons).
Contact Details for Project Information
Lifezone Metals, email info@lifezonemetals.com.