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Nickel

Nickel is a silvery-white metallic element and critical industrial commodity used primarily in stainless steel production, battery manufacturing and metal alloys. The metal accounts for approximately two-thirds of global nickel consumption through its role in stainless steel, where it imparts corrosion resistance and strength. Nickel is increasingly significant in the energy transition as a key component in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, particularly in nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) cathode chemistries. Major nickel-producing countries include Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, New Caledonia and Australia, with Indonesia dominating global supply through laterite ore deposits. The metal is extracted through mining of sulphide and laterite ores, followed by various refining processes including pyrometallurgical smelting, hydrometallurgical leaching and electrorefining to produce refined nickel suitable for industrial use. Nickel prices are traded on the London Metal Exchange and are subject to volatility driven by stainless steel demand from China, battery sector growth and supply constraints. The metal is classified as a critical mineral by several jurisdictions, including the United States and the European Union, owing to its strategic importance in clean energy technologies and industrial applications. Demand for high-purity nickel suitable for battery applications is projected to grow substantially as electrification accelerates, prompting investment in new refining capacity and technologies. Nickel was first isolated as a pure element in the eighteenth century and has been commercially produced since the nineteenth century, with large-scale industrial use expanding alongside stainless steel development in the early twentieth century.

Nickel News


ARM founder and chairperson Patrice Motsepe.
ARM’s Motsepe emphasises importance of honesty, integrity, governance, meritocracy
25th September 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The founder and chairperson of diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) on Friday, September emphasised the importance of companies behaving in a manner that reflects integrity,... 


Nickel mine in Indonesia
Indonesia's nickel production curbs leave market unconvinced
23rd September 2026 By: Reuters

Indonesia is learning that building a dominant position in the nickel market is the easy part. Leveraging its influence over supply to control prices is proving much trickier. The Southeast Asian... 


Nickel ore
Preferred drilling contractor selected for Zeb nickel project
22nd September 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Aim-listed URU Metals’ subsidiary Lesego Platinum Uitloop has completed the tender process for the Zone 2 resource drilling programme at its Zeb nickel project, in Limpopo, South Africa, and... 


Mixtec to Showcase Advanced Agitation Solutions for Battery Minerals and Solvent Extraction at Electra Mining Africa 2026
21st September 2026

At Electra Mining Africa 2026, Mixtec will demonstrate how intelligent agitation design is helping mineral processors improve recoveries, reduce energy consumption and optimise plant performance... 


Nickel plant in Cuba
US sanctions Cuban nickel reserves, military enterprises
18th September 2026 By: Reuters

The US imposed sanctions Thursday on 11 Cuban entities related to nickel reserves and military enterprises that it said were part of a system that enriched the elite, hurting ordinary Cubans. US... 


Black mass material
Electra Battery Materials demonstrates high nickel recoveries in refinery engineering study
17th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V and Nasdaq-listed Electra Battery Materials Corporation has announced preliminary engineering results for the initial phase of its two-phase nickel refinery to process mine-derived feedstock... 


Nickel mining in Indonesia
Indonesian nickel smelters group says new price formula provides operational certainty
17th September 2026 By: Reuters

A group representing Indonesian nickel smelters welcomed a new benchmark price formula that will reduce the price of low-grade nickel ore, which is used in the manufacturing of EV batteries, saying... 


Nickel smelting
China's Lygend Resources looks to raise $547m in Shenzhen share sale
17th September 2026 By: Reuters

Chinese nickel provider Lygend Resources & Technology said on Wednesday it has priced its proposed share sale on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange at 21.23 yuan apiece, seeking to raise 3.67-billion yuan... 


Mine trucks in Canada
New Canadian gov initiative enables 'most competitive mining tax jurisdiction in the world'
16th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Industry body Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has welcomed an announcement by the federal government on a "Productivity Mega Deduction" as a permanent measure allowing businesses to fully write... 


A nickel and copper drill core from Uru
URU advances drilling contractor selection for South African project
15th September 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

London-listed URU Metals has advanced the drilling contractor selection process for the drilling programme at its Zeb nickel project, in Limpopo, South Africa, and is now completing the final... 


Nickel Industries plant in Indonesia
Dry conditions hamper ramp-up of Nickel Industries' newly commissioned Exelsior plant
15th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Nickel Industries has advised of an interruption to the ramp-up of its Excelsior nickel/cobalt high pressure acid leaching project, in Indonesia, owing to dry conditions that have... 


Lithium ore
OECD, IEA say traceability is imperative for secure critical mineral supply chains
11th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

A joint report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and International Energy Agency (IEA) says high levels of supply chain concentration and rising trade restrictions... 


drilling site
State exploration programme targets critical minerals
11th September 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

South Africa’s government geological agency the Council for Geoscience (CGS) has introduced a high-resolution mapping programme to identify areas with potential to host critical minerals, with the... 


two men sat in a testing room doing experiments
High PGM recovery achieved
11th September 2026 By: Halima Frost

Clean-metals project development and technology company Lifezone Metals’ Hydromet Technology successfully demonstrated high recovery of platinum-group metals (PGMs) using one tonne of US-sourced... 


Kumba iron-ore's Sishen mine
South Africa's mining production decreases by 7.5% y/y in July
10th September 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

South Africa's mining production decreased by 7.5% year-on-year in July, with the largest negative contributors being the platinum group metals (PGMs), coal and iron-ore sectors, Statistics South... 


An image of URU nickel and copper drill core
URU complete Leapfrog model for South African project
7th September 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

An updated Leapfrog three-dimensional (3D) geological model for London-listed URU Metals’ Zeb nickel project, in Limpopo, South Africa, has been completed, with this being used to define, position... 


ARM founder and chairperson Patrice Motsepe.
ARM’s Motsepe emphasises importance of honesty, integrity, governance, meritocracy
4th September 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The founder and chairperson of diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) on Friday, September emphasised the importance of companies behaving in a manner that reflects integrity,... 


Nickel smelting
Deeper cobalt discounts add to squeeze on Indonesian nickel producers' margins
4th September 2026 By: Reuters

Chinese makers of batteries for electric vehicles are demanding steeper discounts for cobalt, which could further cut into margins at Indonesian nickel producers squeezed by rising costs of ore and... 


ariel view of a mine site
Investment success hinges on market attractiveness
4th September 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

Zimbabwe’s ability to attract and retain mining investment depends on maintaining current economic stability, infrastructure development and access to long-term capital, says financial institution... 


Nickel mining in Indonesia
Indonesia will build trustworthy commodity exchange, chief supervisor candidate says
24th August 2026 By: Reuters

Indonesia's upcoming minerals and strategic commodity exchange would be built with infrastructure that can be trusted, the president's nominee to regulate commodity trading said on Monday. The... 


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pqt: 0.123s - ct: 0.174s - 277pq - 2rq
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