Nickel is back!

[sptrawler]

Well as I said a while back, mining nickel will be getting marginal and it wont be long before mines go back on care and maintenance.

The real question will be, how long before BHP puts its Nickel West operations on care and maintenance, then the manure really hits the fan.

So much for the World going "clean and green" and paying us a premium for our 'clean' nickel over 'dirty' nickel, just another example in the long line of examples where ideology is being overtaken by reality.
The land of wokeopia, is starting to feel the effects of having a third world economy and a first world lifestyle, do we really think China cares whether they get "clean" product or dirty product.
I mean really?
Spare a thought for all the investors who bought recently into the Kambalda property market, when I was there at Christmas every for sale advert in the real estate window had sold on it, I hope they weren't eastern States investors buying into the dream.


https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/forrest-shuts-wa-mines-as-nickel-dominoes-tumble-20240121-p5eyvo#:~:text=The mines near Kambalda will,China-backed operations in Indonesia.

Billionaire Andrew Forrest is shutting the West Australian nickel mines his private company, Wyloo, bought for $760 million six months ago, bowing to the supply glut that has crashed nickel prices and triggered the loss of around 1000 jobs across WA.

The mines near Kambalda will go into care and maintenance from May 31 amid a steep decline in nickel prices that Australia’s producers have blamed on a glut from China-backed operations in Indonesia.

 

[Sean K]

Well as I said a while back, mining nickel will be getting marginal and it wont be long before mines go back on care and maintenance.

The real question will be, how long before BHP puts its Nickel West operations on care and maintenance, then the manure really hits the fan.

So much for the World going "clean and green" and paying us a premium for our 'clean' nickel over 'dirty' nickel, just another example in the long line of examples where ideology is being overtaken by reality.
The land of wokeopia, is starting to feel the effects of having a third world economy and a first world lifestyle, do we really think China cares whether they get "clean" product or dirty product.
I mean really?
Spare a thought for all the investors who bought recently into the Kambalda property market, when I was there at Christmas every for sale advert in the real estate window had sold on it, I hope they weren't eastern States investors buying into the dream.


https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/forrest-shuts-wa-mines-as-nickel-dominoes-tumble-20240121-p5eyvo#:~:text=The mines near Kambalda will,China-backed operations in Indonesia.

Billionaire Andrew Forrest is shutting the West Australian nickel mines his private company, Wyloo, bought for $760 million six months ago, bowing to the supply glut that has crashed nickel prices and triggered the loss of around 1000 jobs across WA.

The mines near Kambalda will go into care and maintenance from May 31 amid a steep decline in nickel prices that Australia’s producers have blamed on a glut from China-backed operations in Indonesia.

I was buying dips up until about a three months ago and then started selling any strength in Dec. All out of my two disaster stocks CTM and IGO and licking my wounds. The market for sulphide is obviously in the toilet. As discussed, should have seen this much, much earlier. Not sure how long this will take to wash over. Maybe until Indonesia have well and truly shot themselves in the foot somehow but while China doesn't care about emissions and there's a chance nickel may not even be required in future battery chemistries, who knows.

 

[houtman]

So much for the World going "clean and green" and paying us a premium for our 'clean' nickel over 'dirty' nickel, just another example in the long line of examples where ideology is being overtaken by reality.
The land of wokeopia, is starting to feel the effects of having a third world economy and a first world lifestyle, do we really think China cares whether they get "clean" product or dirty product.
I mean really?

Yep, the "Market Bifurcation" crowd just got a reality check.

Tough times for nickel, AF must be thinking never again on the nickel front.

Industry downturns are brutal for most participants. With the Nickel and lithium disasters the WA labour shortages in mining may ease.

 

[sptrawler]

Yep, the "Market Bifurcation" crowd just got a reality check.

Tough times for nickel, AF must be thinking never again on the nickel front.

Industry downturns are brutal for most participants. With the Nickel and lithium disasters the WA labour shortages in mining may ease.

That's if the downturn stays limited to battery materials, it is all starting to look orchestrated to me, hopefully not.

 

[Sean K]

That's if the downturn stays limited to battery materials, it is all starting to look orchestrated to me, hopefully not.

China conspiracy?

 

[sptrawler]

China conspiracy?

Who knows, but it wouldn't be the first time, coal and wine spring to mind in recent history.

 

[rcw1]

Good morning
Was reported yesterday evening (23/01/24) in the AFR, Wyloo Metals (Andrew Forrest), is pushing for a 10 per cent production tax credit that would apply to downstream nickel processing, royalty relief, and greater access to government funding.

Glencore was quoted yesterday that federal Labor needed to work with producers to ensure the survival of the Australian nickel industry amid a sharp fall in prices that has already sparked mine closures and cost about 1000 jobs. Glencore's point was that its Murrin Murrin nickel and cobalt mine in WA was not immune from the current situation.

News reports indicated that Australia’s big nickel producers – BHP, Glencore, Wyloo and IGO Limited – will advocate for change and assistance at meetings in response to oversupply from Chinese-backed producers in Indonesia.

Hmmmmm Watch this space.

Kind regards
rcw1

 

[frugal.rock]

Meanwhile, a new 52 week low in the last 24 hours.

Monthly

Daily, does appear to be finding a consolidated bottom, assuming the price isn't being manipulated to ko many producers.

 

[qldfrog]

What? You mean like this.

https://www.mining.com/web/indonesia-says-strong-indication-of-safety-procedure-violation-in-nickel-fire/

Indonesian government said on Tuesday there was a strong indication of a safety procedure violation that led to a fire at a nickel smelter on Sulawesi island that killed 21 workers.

A fire broke out on Dec. 24 at a furnace in a smelter operated by Tsingshan Stainless Steel Indonesia, located in the country’s largest nickel hub, the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP).

Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP)

Commencing construction in 2013, Tsingshan has now established industry recognised infrastructure and operational facilities at the IMIP.

nickelindustries.com

The development of the IMIP and its competitive operational cost structure is underpinned by several factors:​

• The ability to source an abundance of higher grade (>1.8% nickel grade) nickel ore which is now restricted from export from Indonesia as a result of the Indonesian Government’s ban on the exportation of unprocessed nickel ore under a grade of 4% nickel.
• The generation of competitive electricity costs by the IMIP’s purpose-built 1.26GW power plant which is powered by domestically sourced thermal coal.
• The vertically integrated nature of operations within the IMIP to produce a stainless steel end product, utilising the key raw material inputs, including nickel ore and power.

So cheap coal power, ore you have to process domestically and whole supply chain..exactly what Australia does not have...

 

[Sean K]

This is a bit of a test on what's more important. Economics, or saving the planet from global boiling and lethal humidity.
.




Speaking as Australia’s nickel and lithium industries tank under the weight of offshore competition, King says there is an urgent need to educate the “wider community about the production of critical minerals and rare earths”.

Australia holds a unique position in the global supply chain for the critical minerals market at a time of growing geopolitical tension and rising focus on net-zero technologies.

But collapsing prices have slammed the nickel and lithium industries, leading to mine closures and prompting crisis talks last month between miners and King that raised the prospect of a tax break for downstream processing of some minerals.

BHP nickel boss Jessica Farrell has said Australia needs the right policy settings to remain globally competitive in strategic and critical minerals.

King last year unveiled the Australian government’s critical minerals strategy, which aims to accelerate development of extraction and value-adding of materials needed for EVs, batteries, magnets, wind turbines and military equipment.

By 2040, according to the International Energy Agency, demand for battery minerals such as lithium will jump to 40 times on 2020 levels, while rare earth elements supply may need to increase seven times.

But slow development timeframes for critical minerals projects and low-volume markets, which are often dominated by China or producers from economies with weak environmental or labour standards, means Australia needs to do more to emphasise its natural advantages, she says.

“We’re a reliable supplier of commodities that are not subject to undue interference or restraint from anyone, but particularly the government,” says King.

But the higher cost of production in Australia for many critical minerals means buyers should “have a good honest” look at the consequences of sourcing cheap alternatives.

“If the energy transformation is about saving the planet, of being cleaner and greener and sustainable and having high standards, there has to be recognition of those [higher] standards in Australia. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

 

[sptrawler]

Yet again an example of reality catching up with ideology in Australia, just because we are fanatical about saving the planet by being greener and cleaner than everyone else, doesn't mean they will take the same fanatical approach.
Another case of blow our own feet off, where is the battery manufacturing plants we were going to build, to use our green renewable minerals? Another brain fart exploding right before our eyes, we are buying renewable energy equipment, solar panels, wind turbines, batteries from China, who are sourcing their minerals from Indonesia while our miners go broke.
The clever country highlighted yet again.
We had better put a hold on the immigration, until we stop bleeding jobs. Lol
12 months ago.

PM lukewarm towards Chinese investment in lithium

Anthony Albanese says domestic production of batteries and other clean energy technology is a key element of the government’s plan to shore up sovereign manufacturing capacity

www.afr.com

 

[bk1]

Australia holds a unique position in the global supply chain for the critical minerals market

It does not.
We simply dig it up, the country is not set up to exploit the downstream value chain.
Our near neighbour to the north is an example of what is possible, its not as if he had not made his ambition known to all and sundry for a couple of years now.....

 

[frugal.rock]

It does not.
We simply dig it up, the country is not set up to exploit the downstream value chain.
Our near neighbour to the north is an example of what is possible, its not as if he had not made his ambition known to all and sundry for a couple of years now.....

I can't hear you through all the noise of; cost of living crisis, housing crisis and anti semitic hoards. Can you please repeat that?

 

[The Triangle]

Avebury nickel mine goes into care-and-maintenance

The receivers and managers of the Mallee Resources group of companies on Wednesday announced that the Avebury nickel mine, in Tasmania, will transition into a care-and-maintenance programme. KordaMentha’s distressed business division has been operating Avebury while looking for a long-term...

www.miningweekly.com

How many nickel mines left?

 

[Sean K]

It does not.
We simply dig it up, the country is not set up to exploit the downstream value chain.
Our near neighbour to the north is an example of what is possible, its not as if he had not made his ambition known to all and sundry for a couple of years now.....

Please attribute that to the author of the article, or Madeleine King.

 

[sptrawler]

Well it looks like we will be selling Bintang and T Shirts, when we get enough people to man the deck chairs.

So much for our 'green' battery materials eh, we really do need a reality check, before we kill ourselves with smugness.

Feb 2024

Indonesia’s Electric Battery Industrial Strategy

Indonesia's ambitious targets in the electric battery industry offer a prime opportunity for strategic investments and partnerships.

www.aseanbriefing.com

Electric vehicle batteries supply chain​

Global EV makers, which include US’s Tesla and China’s BYD, are said to be finalizing deals to invest in Indonesia. Moreover, to complement its nickel-based battery industry, the country is also developing lithium refineries and anode material production facilities.

2023​

• Indonesian company Aneka Tambang and Hong Kong CBL Limited sign a conditional share purchase agreement for the partial ownership of Aneka’s nickel mine in North Maluku province.

• German company BASF, French mining group Eramet, and auto producer Volkswagen have stated that they will invest in Indonesia’s EV ecosystem.

• BASF plans to invest US$2.6 billion to develop a car battery plant in North Maluku province.

• Indonesia will grant incentives to EV makers that plan to open EV plants – based on their imports
of completely built-up EVs until 2025. As such, the new rules will remove import duties and luxury goods tax on EV vehicles brought into the country.

2024​

• Chinese EV producer BYD plans to build a production facility in Indonesia in 2024. The company also launched three car models in the Indonesian market.

• BYD’s investment is expected to reach US$1.5 billion with a production capacity of 150,000 units per year.

• Hyundai and LG’s joint venture to build a lithium battery plant in Indonesia is expected to begin
production in 2024. The plant is expected to have a production capacity of 10 GWh of battery cells.

• Chinese EV producer Neta, will begin production of completely knocked-down (CKD) EV cars in Indonesia in 2024.

• Vietnamese EV maker, VinFast, announced that it would invest US$1.2 billion to build an EV manufacturing facility in Indonesia.

• Vale Indonesia and China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt sign an agreement with Ford Motor to build a hydroxide precipitate (MHP) plant in Southeast Sulawesi province. The plant will have a capacity to produce 120,000 tons of hydroxide precipitate. Vale Indonesia and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt have also agreed to build a second MHP plant with a 60,000-ton capacity.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Title of Thread : Nickel is Back

Could someone please let me know when the title of this thread is imminent and what stocks in which I should invest.

My plan is to make so much moolah from investing in nickel, dirty energy and mining that I can afford to appear at the top table with knuckleheads like King and Rudd, attend DAVOS and generally fart about giving other people advice on how they should live their life.

I repeat :

Could someone please let me know when the title of this thread is immenent and what stocks in which I should invest.

gg

 

[StockyGuy]

Title of Thread : Nickel is Back

Could someone please let me know when the title of this thread is imminent and what stocks in which I should invest.

My plan is to make so much moolah from investing in nickel, dirty energy and mining that I can afford to appear at the top table with knuckleheads like King and Rudd, attend DAVOS and generally fart about giving other people advice on how they should live their life.

I repeat :

Could someone please let me know when the title of this thread is immenent and what stocks in which I should invest.

gg

I assumed it was always just a pun for that unfairly maligned band.

 

[Sean K]

Well it looks like we will be selling Bintang and T Shirts, when we get enough people to man the deck chairs.

So much for our 'green' battery materials eh, we really do need a reality check, before we kill ourselves with smugness.

Feb 2024

Indonesia’s Electric Battery Industrial Strategy

Indonesia's ambitious targets in the electric battery industry offer a prime opportunity for strategic investments and partnerships.

www.aseanbriefing.com

Electric vehicle batteries supply chain​

Global EV makers, which include US’s Tesla and China’s BYD, are said to be finalizing deals to invest in Indonesia. Moreover, to complement its nickel-based battery industry, the country is also developing lithium refineries and anode material production facilities.

2023​

• Indonesian company Aneka Tambang and Hong Kong CBL Limited sign a conditional share purchase agreement for the partial ownership of Aneka’s nickel mine in North Maluku province.

• German company BASF, French mining group Eramet, and auto producer Volkswagen have stated that they will invest in Indonesia’s EV ecosystem.

• BASF plans to invest US$2.6 billion to develop a car battery plant in North Maluku province.

• Indonesia will grant incentives to EV makers that plan to open EV plants – based on their imports
of completely built-up EVs until 2025. As such, the new rules will remove import duties and luxury goods tax on EV vehicles brought into the country.

2024​

• Chinese EV producer BYD plans to build a production facility in Indonesia in 2024. The company also launched three car models in the Indonesian market.

• BYD’s investment is expected to reach US$1.5 billion with a production capacity of 150,000 units per year.

• Hyundai and LG’s joint venture to build a lithium battery plant in Indonesia is expected to begin
production in 2024. The plant is expected to have a production capacity of 10 GWh of battery cells.

• Chinese EV producer Neta, will begin production of completely knocked-down (CKD) EV cars in Indonesia in 2024.

• Vietnamese EV maker, VinFast, announced that it would invest US$1.2 billion to build an EV manufacturing facility in Indonesia.

• Vale Indonesia and China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt sign an agreement with Ford Motor to build a hydroxide precipitate (MHP) plant in Southeast Sulawesi province. The plant will have a capacity to produce 120,000 tons of hydroxide precipitate. Vale Indonesia and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt have also agreed to build a second MHP plant with a 60,000-ton capacity.

Really, how can Nth American and European countries do EV/battery investments there with a straight face.

We've been conned on 'green metal' investments.

 

[Sean K]

Title of Thread : Nickel is Back

Could someone please let me know when the title of this thread is imminent and what stocks in which I should invest.

My plan is to make so much moolah from investing in nickel, dirty energy and mining that I can afford to appear at the top table with knuckleheads like King and Rudd, attend DAVOS and generally fart about giving other people advice on how they should live their life.

I repeat :

Could someone please let me know when the title of this thread is immenent and what stocks in which I should invest.

gg

Maybe we put in brackets at the end of the title (satire)