Wyloo-Metalshub MoU on nickel pricing

Wyloo and Metalshub have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the carbon footprint, ESG (environmental, social and governance) credentials, pricing and provenance in international nickel markets.

The mining industry has been grappling with the downward pressure on nickel prices and mine closures from a flood of cheap nickel, mined in low-cost Indonesian operations, coming on to the global scene.

Wyloo intends to use Metalshub for the sale of its low-carbon nickel and nickel concentrate products following a restart of its Kambalda nickel operations in WA.

This collaboration aims to develop a price index for low-carbon nickel concentrate and nickel sulphate, to be referenced in future sales contracts.

Wyloo chief executive Luca Giacovazzi says the collaboration will set a new global standard for sustainably produced nickel products and enable greater transparency of low carbon nickel pricing.

“The Metalshub platform will enable nickel producers to provide provenance, carbon footprint and ESG information to customers, in an auditable form, leading to qualification under key market regulations such as the USA’s Inflation Reduction Act or the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Battery Regulation,” he said.

“If we want car manufacturers to effectively manage their scope three emissions, and to empower consumers to choose electric vehicles that are truly good for the environment, the industry must adopt transparent emission reporting across the supply chain.”

Metalshub co-founder and managing director Dr Sebastian Kreft says the transparency will give nickel producers an opportunity to market their products with a premium.

“Nickel has become an important focus of the energy transition as the world moves away from fossil fuels to renewable energy and the electrification of transport,” he said.

“Today, most nickel is used for producing stainless steel, but the fastest growing application is lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.

“But nickel mining and processing presents significant ESG concerns relating to greenhouse gas emissions, air, soil and water pollution, the destruction of ecosystems, indigenous rights, energy use and working conditions.

“Our platform will enable mining companies and manufacturers buying metals to demonstrate that they are addressing these concerns and meeting the needs of the green energy transition in an ethical and sustainable way.

“It is also another milestone on our joint journey together with the LME to provide producers and consumers access to our software platform to discover “green” nickel premiums.

“We are excited to increase transparency around ESG credentials and CO₂ footprint – the gained transparency will give producers an opportunity to market their products with a premium.”