Madagascan miner Ambatovy’s operations hit by cyclone

Published: Feb 13, 2026 15:31

Save

Operations at the nickel-cobalt project Ambatovy in Madagascar have been suspended after a powerful cyclone struck the country. The project produced approximately 28,000 tonnes of nickel and 2,500 tonnes of cobalt in 2024. The storm also severely damaged Madagascar’s main port, Toamasina, potentially disrupting exports of mineral products. The company said its local processing plant sustained material damage and is currently assessing the full impact on assets and operations, with production to resume only after site safety and environmental conditions are fully verified. Ambatovy mainly produces nickel and cobalt briquettes, which can be further processed into sulphates used in battery materials. Market participants noted that a prolonged outage could push up battery material prices.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

5 hours ago

[SMM Analysis] The Golden Age of Battery Recycling

5 hours ago

[SMM Analysis] Indonesia’s Battery Recycling Advances Further

5 hours ago

Xinjiang Blue Diamond Lithium Energy's 35kt Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate Project Environmental Assessment Released

Recently, Xinjiang Blue Diamond Lithium Energy Technology Co., Ltd. published the first official public notice for the environmental impact assessment of its lithium salt production project. The project is located in Toksun County, Turpan City, Xinjiang, with a total investment of 2.5 billion yuan. It will include a production line capable of producing 35,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate and 935 tons of anhydrous lithium chloride per year, along with supporting facilities such as a raw material preparation area, pyrometallurgical area, leaching and electrolysis area, and production area.

5 hours ago