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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


Raglan mine
Glencore Canada VP awarded for sustainability achievements at Raglan mine
16th October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Canadian nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt and platinum group metals producer Glencore Canada has confirmed its VP Jean-François Verret received a Canada's Clean50 Award in the primary resources... 


Image of periodic table symbol for nickel
Crawford nickel sulphide project, Canada – update
16th October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

All primary approvals needed for the Stage 1 development are now in place. 


Atlantic Strategic Minerals' mineral sands operation
Mining investment firm Appian appoints dedicated experts to boost critical minerals portfolio
13th October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

As investment adviser Appian Capital Advisory builds out its critical minerals portfolio to serve industrial and defence supply chains, the company has established a base in Washington DC, and... 


An image of tin ore
Industrial metals post mixed third-quarter performance, downside risks persist
9th October 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Industrial metals have come under broad pressure in recent weeks, falling 3.3% month-on-month as of October 7, as expectations of a more hawkish US Federal Reserve weighed on sentiment across the... 


Ferroalloys sector balancing geopolitics, tariffs, and the structural path to re-industrialisation
Ferroalloys sector balancing geopolitics, tariffs, and the structural path to re-industrialisation
9th October 2026

South Africa’s critical minerals sector faces a pivotal moment as energy tariff reforms, port efficiency gains, and global policy shifts intersect to shape the future of local beneficiation. The... 


Thakadu IXS-PurePlus Nickel Sulphate Launch
New nickel sulphate product for batteries
9th October 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Battery materials manufacturer Thakadu Battery Materials has announced the launch of IXS-PurePlus, a new nickel sulphate product developed for companies that require cleaner chemistry, tighter... 


Nickel smelter in Indonesia
Indonesia plans to impose a moratorium on new plants making partly processed nickel
7th October 2026 By: Reuters

Indonesia is discussing a plan to impose a moratorium on development of new nickel processing facilities that produce partly processed metals, the senior minister overseeing mining, Bahlil... 


Westwin Elements nickel refinery
Westwin Elements to invest $502m in Mississippi nickel refinery
6th October 2026 By: Reuters

Westwin Elements said on Monday it plans to invest $502-million over five years to build a commercial-scale Class 1 nickel refinery in Natchez, Mississippi, as the US seeks to expand domestic... 


Nisk project drilling
Canada's Power Metallic tasks engineering consultant BBA for Nisk project PEA
5th October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Canadian copper, nickel, gold and silver explorer Power Metallic has appointed BBA as lead engineering consultant for a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on the Lion and Nisk Main deposits at... 


Image of Canada map/flag
Horden Lake copper/nickel project, Canada
2nd October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Pivotal Metals' scoping study has evaluated a conventional, single-openpit, truck-and-shovel mine, as well as a crushing, grinding and flotation plant producing separate copper and nickel... 


South Africa's A2X complementary stock exchange.
South Africa’s complementary A2X exchange attracts another mining listing
29th September 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The ordinary shares of precious metals mining company Sibanye-Stillwater have been approved for inclusion in the list of qualifying equity securities to be traded on South Africa’s complementary... 


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... 


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