RANKED: World’s top 10 nickel projects – 2021

MINING.com Editor | March 17, 2021 | 3:05 pm

While nickel is mostly used for stainless steel, the base metal has begun to take centre stage in the production of batteries in electric vehicles, as it is expected that original equipment manufacturers will increasingly use high-nickel cathode battery chemistries.

The global nickel market is currently running at a surplus, but a supply deficit is expected to form in 2027 – and remain as demand accelerates.

The shift in market dynamics is already being reflected in the price of nickel, which recently surged to its highest since 2014. Prices are now approaching what market participants believe to be a key level for unlocking fresh supply.

To identify major nickel deposits that could form part of the global supply landscape in the future, MINING.COM and sister company MiningIntelligence compiled the 10 largest projects under development worldwide and ranked them based on contained nickel resources in the measured and indicated categories.

While the world’s top nickel suppliers are Indonesia, the Philippines and Russia, six out of this year’s top ten ranked nickel projects are in North America, and the first is a seafloor deposit in the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and Mexico.

Grabbing top place is the Nori Clarion-Clipperton polymetallic project, about 4,000-4,500 metres deep into the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. The project is named after the seafloor zone between Hawaii and Mexico, and is part of international waters. The exploration contract is held by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc., but DeepGreen Metals has exclusive access to this area.

DeepGreen’s portfolio also includes the TOML exploration zone with estimated wet nodule resources of just under 954,000 tonnes contained nickel and with similar grades to NORI.

Together, the exploration area covers a combined 75,000 km2. TOML Clarion-Clipperton on its own is the 25th largest nickel deposit.

Fresh study calls for moratorium on deep-sea mining
Image courtesy of DeepGreen.

Followed closely in 2nd place is the Dumont nickel-sulphide deposit located in Canada’s Abitibi mining camp. Once in production, it is expected to rank among the biggest nickel operations in the world with an average annual nickel production of 39,000 tonnes for over 30 years.

Image courtesy of Dumont Nickel.

Taking 3rd place is FPX Nickel’s greenfield discovery at Decar in British Columbia, where the deposit contains little to no sulphides, but has mineralization in the form of a naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy called awaruite. The project — named after the district in central BC, hosting the awaruite mineralization — is estimated to produce 37,369 tonnes of concentrate per annum over a mine life of 24 years.

Next up is another project found in BC of a similar size but of different geology: the Turnagain project operated by Giga Metals. Once developed, this nickel sulphide is able to produce 33,000 tonnes of nickel a year over 37 years, with peak annual production of 45,000 tonnes.

Minnesota environmental advocates step up fight against Twin Metals’ copper project
The proposed underground copper-nickel mine and processing facility will be located along the shores of Birch Lake and the South Kawishiwi River, which lie in the Rainy River watershed. (Image courtesy of Twin Metals Minnesota)

Occupying the 5th spot is Antofagasta’s Twin Metals project located in Minnesota’s Duluth Complex mining camp. The proposed mine has been under close scrutiny for years due to the public outcry over its environmental risks and was halted during Obama’s presidency. However, it was later revived by the Trump administration.

Rounding out the top 10 list are:

  • The Sangaji prospect held by Indonesian miner ANTAM;
  • Ardea Resources’ flagship Goongarrie project in the Kalgoorlie region of Australia;
  • Canada Nickel’s Crawford project in Ontario’s Timmins-Cochrane mining camp;
  • Teck Resources’ Mesaba project, the largest sulphide deposit in Minnesota’s Duluth Complex; and
  • The Wingellina deposit that forms part of Metals X’s Central Musgrave project in Australia.

Six of the top 10 nickel projects are in North America, including three Canadian deposits that are all ranked in the top 5.

Four projects — NORI Clarion – Clipperton, Sangaji, Crawford and Mesaba — are in the advanced exploration stage. The two British Columbia projects have reached the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) stage. The remaining projects are either at Prefeasibility (PFS) or Feasibility (FS).

Falling just short of the top 10 rankings is BHP’s Yakabindie deposit, part of the global miner’s Nickel West division in Australia. The project is currently in advanced exploration.

(Click here for an excel download of the Top 10 biggest nickel projects from the MiningIntelligence database)

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7 Comments

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  • Michael Christie

    I wish to point out that your table of the worlds largest nickel deposits published on Mining.Com is grossly erroneous. The number one project in your list ‘Langmuir’ actually has a published resource of only 6,700 tones of Ni not 6.7 million tonnes! It is tiny! Certainly not the largest Ni deposit in the world! Some of the other numbers look unlikely as well, but I stopped checking after that. I think such an overt error shows the table was prepared by someone with little understanding or background in mineral resources and completely undermines your credibility as a “mining intelligence” company.

    • João

      Cadê o projeto Weda Bay Nickel Project e o Projeto TAIMYR da Norilsk Mining https://www.nornickel.com/business/assets/taimyr/
      Vai acabar perdendo a credibilidade mining.com.

    • Tricky

      MICHAEL CHRISTIE

      Correct. The reporting is woeful. Horizonte Minerals has a 4m tonne nickel laterite resource/reserve in Brazil over three projects one of which is on the verge of tying down funding to build the mine. Then there’s Amur Minerals (nickel sulphide at about 0.75%) sitting on a 1.58m tonne nickel EQ resource/reserve. Both blow the socks off the “top ten” and neither gets a mention.

      • Frik Els

        Thanks for the comment Tricky, the Top 10 considered individual projects not the combined total of projects owned by a company which means Horizonte’s Araguaia with 1.526m tonnes contained Ni and Vermelho with 1.528m tonnes Ni sits at position 12 and 13 just behind BHP’s Yakabindie. As for Amur’s Kun Manie project you mention nickel equivalent tonnes of 1.58m not contained nickel which is what the Top 10 is based on. Kun Manie has 870kt of contained nickel.

  • Maurice Koopman

    Why is CleanTeqs Sunrise project not mentioned? On the bases of what criteria?

  • Albert Barfo

    The top 10 biggest mine Neckel West Australia is to improve the rank of the company to share holders to pave the way for world investors.

  • lembree pascal

    Bonsoir , Je tiens souligner l’importance d’un cadre réglementaire pour l’exploitation des fonds marins. Les fonds marins, qui englobent les ressources et les écosystèmes sous-marins, jouent un rôle crucial dans l’équilibre écologique de la planète et présentent un potentiel économique considérable. Pour exploiter ces ressources de manière durable, un cadre juridique et réglementaire solide est essentiel. Voici quelques raisons pour lesquelles un tel cadre est nécessaire :

    Protection de l’environnement : Les écosystèmes marins sont sensibles et vulnérables à l’exploitation non réglementée. Un cadre réglementaire peut imposer des normes environnementales pour minimiser les impacts négatifs sur la faune, la flore et les habitats sous-marins.

    Gestion durable : Un cadre réglementaire peut établir des quotas de pêche, des limites de collecte de ressources, et d’autres mesures visant à assurer une gestion durable des ressources marines, évitant ainsi l’épuisement des stocks.

    Prévention de la surpêche : L’une des principales préoccupations dans l’exploitation des fonds marins est la surpêche. Les réglementations peuvent limiter la pêche excessive et protéger les espèces en voie de disparition.

    Gestion des conflits : Les fonds marins sont souvent situés dans des zones internationales, ce qui peut entraîner des conflits sur les droits d’exploitation. Un cadre juridique peut aider à résoudre ces conflits et à établir des accords internationaux sur l’exploitation partagée.

    Protection des droits des peuples autochtones : Dans certaines régions, des peuples autochtones ont des droits historiques sur les ressources marines. Les réglementations doivent protéger ces droits et garantir une participation équitable aux bénéfices de l’exploitation.

    Recherche scientifique : Un cadre réglementaire peut également encourager la recherche scientifique pour mieux comprendre les écosystèmes marins et les impacts de l’exploitation.

    Au niveau international, des accords tels que la Convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer (UNCLOS) fournissent un cadre pour la gestion et l’exploitation des fonds marins au-delà des juridictions nationales. Les pays et les organisations travaillent ensemble pour élaborer des règles et des réglementations qui favorisent la conservation et l’utilisation responsable de ces précieuses ressources marines.

    Aussi manifeste le cadre demeure inachevé sans un peu de compréhension …..

    Belle soirée à vous tous…

    Pascal lembree