Nickel and copper are not on the Australian Government’s Critical Minerals list, but the Federal Government’s Resources Minister Madeleine King today announced that list is being updated.
The list contains 26 materials deemed essential for the clean energy transition, future technologies, the economy and national security.
A question about nickel’s current exclusion was asked of BHP’s Nickel West Asset President Jessica Farrell, who was guest speaker at today’s WA Mining Club luncheon at Optus Stadium in Perth.
The mining stalwart, who has a career spanning domestic and overseas operations, is BHP’s first female employee in this role for Nickel West, a leading supplier of nickel to the battery metals market.
In her two years with Nickel West, Ms Farrell has already seen significant industry evolution – in 2016 less than 10 per cent of the company’s nickel was sold into the electric vehicle (EV) battery market, now that’s topped 85 per cent. Nickel West is selling material to manufacturers including Tesla. Still, nickel is not on the critical minerals list.
“Things are moving rapidly as the supply/demand picture adjusts,” Ms Farrell said.
“We see it as a commodity that’s absolutely needed for the future.
“Australia is well placed for this transition.”
A challenge, she noted, was the need to see supply continuously emerge whilst remaining competitive.
Ms Farrell said by 2030, 60 per cent of cars sold will be electric and by 2040, that’ll be around 90 per cent.
The world’s automotive industry is increasing the pressure on suppliers to ensure they’re managing CO2 emissions and there’s more scrutiny around processing methods and community relationships.
The update to the critical minerals list is underway, with a consultation paper released today. Submissions will be accepted until August 17.
Turning solar
With a view to sustainability, Ms Farrell said Nickel West would soon switch on power from two solar farms with 70,000 panels spread across 90 hectares in the northern goldfields of Western Australia. The projects include a battery energy storage facility to help power the company’s mines and concentrators in the region.
Nickel West also has a power purchase agreement with Merredin Solar Farm and Flat Rocks Wind Farm and has trialled electric vehicles in its underground operations.
Asset pool
Nickel West sits within BHP’s Australian minerals operations, with Mt Keith open-cut pit and Cliffs and Leinster underground mining operations. It has a concentrator in Kambalda which processes ore and concentrates from other miners too.
The company smelter at Kalgoorlie – now celebrating its 50th year – produces nickel matte. From there, it can go to Nickel West Kwinana for refining into premium-grade nickel powder and briquettes (compressed blocks) which at this stage are 99.8 per cent nickel.
While the majority of nickel produced is sold as powder and briquettes, nickel powder can be further processed at Kwinana Nickel Refinery to produce nickel sulphate for electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries.
Women in mining
Under Ms Farrell’s leadership, women now make up nearly half the senior leadership team of Nickel West.
She’s driven security upgrades at the Mt Keith and Leinster mining villages and has encouraged flexible working arrangements, including part-time and job sharing within the senior leadership team.
She participated in the WA Parliamentary Inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry and has been a strong advocate for the LGBTQI+ community and Indigenous leaders at BHP.