According to foreign media reports, the strong demand for electric vehicle (EV) and insufficient investment in processing seem to lead to a global shortage of metals, especially nickel, for lithium-ion batteries. In the next 20 years, the global demand for nickel will increase sharply.
Against this backdrop, Altilium Group announced on 9 November that it had reached an agreement with PT Indo Mineral Research, a member of Sebuku Group, one of the largest mining groups in Indonesia, to cooperate in the development and promotion of DNi Process industries in Indonesia. The two companies have agreed to invest capital, technology and logistics resources to accelerate the adoption of DNi Process batteries and play a key role in the EV battery supply chain.
Discussions are under way with various parties to build a DNi Process batteries plant in Indonesia. The first plant may provide at least 20000 tons of mixed hydroxide precipitated (MHP) nickel per year, sufficient nickel and cobalt, equivalent to about 500000 and 250000 lithium-ion batteries, respectively. In addition, DNi Process minerals will produce marketable products such as hematite, magnesium oxide, aluminum hydroxide and scandium oxide.
DNi Process minerals can process all ores in laterite and extract all available metals from the ore, so the economy of the process makes the use of low-grade ores possible and profitable. These characteristics also distinguish DNi Process alloy from existing metallurgical processes.
The DNi Process factory will supply the global market. At present, almost all hydrometallurgical plants operating in Indonesia that produce MHP are Chinese-owned or supported HPAL plants for the Chinese market.
Chris Gower, CEO of Altilium Group, said: "DNi Process automotive is a win-win situation for Indonesia, the electric vehicle industry and the environment. We are pleased to take this important first step with Sebuku Group. Together, we will help Indonesia become a major producer of cleaner nickel and other metals necessary for the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles. "
Yoseph Swamidharma, Chief Research and Development Officer of the Sebuku Group, said, "We are pleased to work with Altilium Group and we believe that, Altilium Group's groundbreaking DNi Process extraction will help transform the nickel extraction industry. We look forward to a long-term and fruitful partnership. "
Crucially, the process has been tested and verified at a pilot plant at the CSIRO plant in Perth Watford, Western Australia.
(QPM) Queensland Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. is currently developing the first DNi Process metals plant to produce 16000 tons of nickel in MHP, with construction expected to begin in April 2022.
