Smelting is highly polluting
Conventional nickel supply relies on highly polluting, toxic processes which use carbon intensive smelting.
Smelting and refining account for over two-thirds of CO2 emissions in nickel production and produce harmful SO2. The world’s combined smelting operations accounts for 7% of all global emissions according to Forbes.1
Compare the serious environmental effects of this conventional base metal extraction process with the benefits of Lifezone’s hydromet technology.
Emissions in thermal metal production
The traditional, dirty pyrometallurgical process or smelting and refining accounts for over two-thirds of CO2 emissions in nickel production. Smelting also produces harmful SO2.
Benefits of Lifezone’s hydromet
Lifezone’s process produces nickel, copper and cobalt with up to 73% reduction in CO2 eq. emissions and zero SO2 emissions
reduction on CO2 and zero SO2 emissions1
Combatting climate change
Responsibly sourced metals are key to combatting climate change.
As EVs and battery supply chain decarbonise to provide sustainable metal and base metals like nickel to the EV and green hydrogen industries. Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) and base metals such as nickel, will be key to hydrogen production and auto-catalysts.
The decarbonisation imperative is urgent, driven by global policy on emissions – and empowered by new targets and consumer expectations.
PGMs and nickel will be key to hydrogen production and auto-catalysts.