Canada Nickel has launched wholly-owned NetZero Metals Inc. to develop zero-carbon production of Nickel, Cobalt and Iron and holds trademarks for NetZero NickelTM, NetZero CobaltTM and NetZero IronTM across several jurisdictions
About the Nickel Processing Facility
Over three phases, the nickel processing plant is expected to reach a capacity of more than 80,000 tonnes of nickel annually, which is expected to make it the largest nickel processing facility in North America. Subject to permitting approvals, the plant plans to begin production by the start of 2027 utilizing third party feeds. The facility is expected to be further expanded with the startup and expansion of Canada Nickel’s Crawford project. This plant is expected to utilize proven, low environmental footprint technology to produce high-quality nickel products, catering to the needs of both the stainless-steel/superalloy and the electric vehicle markets.
About the Stainless-Steel and Alloy Processing Facility
In addition to the nickel processing plant, a stainless steel and alloy production facility is expected to be established to process the nickel-chromium (NiCr) magnetite concentrate from the Crawford Nickel project and other feeds to be transformed into more than 1 million tonnes of alloy products, including more than 500,000 tonnes of 304-grade stainless-steel annually. The facility is expected to grow along with the expansion at Crawford Nickel project and would become the largest stainless-steel production facility in Canada.
Production is planned to begin in the latter half of 2027, aligning with the planned start-up of the Crawford mine, subject to permitting approvals. Discussions are currently underway with leading global ferroalloy and stainless producers to partner on this project.
About Zero-Carbon Nickel & Stainless-Steel Production
A cornerstone of this venture, and all of Canada Nickel’s work, is its environmental stewardship. All carbon emissions from both plants are expected to be captured and stored in the tailings of the planned Crawford mine. This approach positions both NetZero Metals plants as zero carbon emitters and pioneers in the green steel industry on a global scale.
NetZero Metals Management Team:
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Mike Cox, CEO, NetZero Metals Inc.
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Keiji Okamoto
IPT CARBONATION PROCESS
Canada Nickel’s Crawford Project is hosted in ultramafic rock, which naturally absorbs and sequesters CO2. Canada Nickel has developed the novel IPT Carbonation process which involves injecting a concentrated source of CO2 into tailings generated by the milling process for a brief period of time. This simple process captures CO2 geologically in the tailings while they are still in the processing circuit, rather than after they have been finally deposited.
Step One
Minerals, including brucite, olivine, and serpentine, are extracted from the open pit and transported to the processing facility
Step Three
As part of mineral processing, tailings are conditioned with a concentrated CO2 stream, at which time the injected CO2 is permanently captured.
Step Two
Mineral processing separates the valuable minerals (into a concentrate) from the waste minerals (including brucite, a component of the tailings)
Step Four
Tailings are deposited directly into the TMF, where they react with atmospheric CO2 brucite reacts with atmospheric CO2 to form a magnesium carbonate
Designed to become one of Canada’s largest carbon storage facilities with 1.5 Mtpa carbon captured and stored during peak period. More than 34 tonnes of carbon captured and stored per tonne of nickel over project life. After reducing Crawford’s minimal carbon footprint to net zero, there will be in excess of 30 tonnes storage capacity per tonne of nickel produced that can be sold.
NetZero Concentrate Processing
- Existing pyrometallurgical processes such as roasting, sulphation roasting, and reduction using electric arc furnaces (utilizing natural gas rather than coke or coal as a reductant) with the off gases captured and re-routed to allow the CO2 to be captured by the waste rock and tailings.
- Existing hydrometallurgical processes such as the Albion or other similar processes to produce products which generate minimal off-gases. The off-gases will again be captured and treated to ensure CO2 and SO2 emissions are minimized.
- Production of iron products utilizing existing direct reduced iron (DRI) processes or reduction in electric arc furnaces utilizing natural gas.