RE: Nickel the new Gasoline?only 50% of nickel supply is suitable for batteries ...looking into the lack of high grade sulphide nickel mines/resources ,
if the world truly wants more class 1 nickel for longer battery range plus some cobalt for stability then we need a lot more refineries converting low grade nickel laterites
check out the trouble sherritt had making its HPAL refinery operation cost them about $7 billion US
almost went bankrupt and had lost majority interest as a result
if elon wants more battery nickel he better pay up
Conclusion
As EV/battery demand continues to grow greater amounts of nickel sulphate are going to be required. In the near-medium term that demand will be met from existing Class I producers like BHP, but growing deficits are going to require new sources in the future.
Given the increasing scarcity of large, high-quality sulphide deposits, that means further development of nickel laterites.
For Class I nickel that means new HPAL projects, with stainless steel demand continuing to be well supplied by FeNi and NPI producers.
HPAL clearly has a mixed track-record, but when working well operations are cost competitive, particularly given the recent run in cobalt prices.
However the failures cannot be overlooked, and developers need to be more realistic about expected ramp-up targets, lest the sins of the past be repeated.
https://www.gigametals.com/site/assets/files/4861/2018-03-19-hpal.pdf