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UK-based Altilium Group and PT Indo Mineral Research, a member of Sebuku Group (one of Indonesia’s largest mining groups) have signed an agreement to commit financial, technical and logistical resources to accelerate the adoption of the DNi process in Indonesia.
Altilium’s DNi process enables the extraction of nickel from low-nickel ores.
The technology treats the entire profile of the lateritic ore, namely limonite, saprolite and the transition zone, in a continuous process and uses nitric acid to dissolve the metals in a solution. The nickel and cobalt are delivered in the form of a mixed hydroxide concentrate (MHP), which is the feedstock of choice for cathode/battery manufacturers for refining into battery metals.
According to Altilium, the process also allows 99% of the nitric acid used to extract the metals to be recycled and generates no waste but rather a nitrogen-rich residue that can be returned to the mine to encourage the growth of local flora.
Since Indonesia is the country with the largest nickel reserves in the world, Altilium reports that several parties have shown interest in building DNi Process plants, with the first plant likely to supply at least 20,000 tons of nickel in mixed hydroxide concentrate (MHP) per year. This would be enough nickel and cobalt for the equivalent of about 500,000 and 250,000 lithium-ion batteries, respectively.
DNi has already been tested in Australia with a pilot plant set up at one of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s facilities in Perth.
Following those initial tests, Queensland Pacific Metals has commissioned a process plant, which is scheduled to begin construction in 2022 and is expected to supply 16,000 tons of nickel in MHP.
