Home Queensland Pacific Metals: Sustainable battery materials production will re-energise the nickel industry

Queensland Pacific Metals: Sustainable battery materials production will re-energise the nickel industry

In their latest eBook, Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM) highlight how they are producing ethically derived nickel to support sustainable battery production.

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more common on our roads, the world becomes closer to transitioning to green, zero-emission energy. However, to put more EVs on roads, a surplus supply of critical minerals is needed to meet battery production targets.

Batteries exist at the heart of EVs, and play an important role in our everyday lives, including in smartphones, laptops, and watches. As the demand for EVs soars, the demand for sustainable batteries to power clean transport will increase.

It is crucial that the critical metals used in EV batteries are sustainably sourced and produced. QPM is aiding sustainable battery production through the ethical mining of several critical metals, including nickel, cobalt, alumina, and hematite.

The main focus of QPM’s push for sustainable battery production is to re-energise the nickel industry. Nickel has become a key component of lithium-ion batteries in recent years, with market research predicting that its use in EV batteries will soon represent the second largest end-use market for this critical metal. The use of nickel lends several benefits to battery production, improving their overall economics and market appeal.

QPM’s unique TECH Project is set to become a leading supplier of high-grade, ethically derived, advanced nickel. Situated 40 kilometres south of Townsville, Queensland, the project’s location is ideal, due to its proximity to New Caledonia and long-term history of importing nickel in this region.

Topics in this eBook include:

  • How the TECH Project is of significance to sustainable battery production;
  • QPM’s unique approach to the production of critical metals;
  • QPM’s strategic partnership with General Motors; and
  • The DNi Process™, which is the future of nickel laterite process.

About Queensland Pacific Metals

Queensland Pacific Metals is pioneering the sustainable development of high-purity battery materials with its novel TECH project.

QPM plans to construct and operate a sustainable and high-purity battery materials refinery known as the Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH project), which is south of Townsville.

The TECH project has attracted significant attention as a potential supplier of nickel, cobalt, and high-purity alumina to the emerging electric vehicle sector.

During operation, the project is forecast to generate more than 300 direct jobs and over 1,900 indirect supply chain jobs in the fields of transport, utilities, and engineering.

The TECH project will use leading-edge processing technology known as the DNi Process. This was developed in Australia in conjunction with CSIRO and further optimised by QPM to enable its commercialisation.

QPM’s offtakers and shareholders include LG Energy Solution and POSCO, two major Korean conglomerates.