The study focused on laterite ores, a type of soil-rich rocks that contain metals like nickel. They form in hot, tropical regions when rain and heat break down rocks over time, leaving behind metal-rich layers. They are abundant but tough to process. “While sulphide ores are found deeper underground and are easier to process, they’re rapidly depleting. The new method used in the study works efficiently on laterites, making it key to future nickel production,
India has substantial nickel laterite reserves, particularly in Odisha’s Sukinda region. “These deposits, containing 0.4-0.9% nickel as nickeliferous limonite in chromite mine overburden, are often overlooked because traditional methods require higher-grade ores. But [the team’s method] excels at extracting value from these lower-grade resources,” Dierk Raabe, professor and director of the Max Planck Institute and co-author of the study, said. He added that the technology could play a major role as the demand for sustainably produced materials continues to grow.
Without such innovations, the sustainability revolution — whether in electrification, renewables, or green infrastructure — risks merely shifting the carbon dioxide and energy burdens from one sector to another. In other words, we might build a ‘greener’ world through EVs, solar panels, and high-performance magnets while still relying on carbon-intensive methods to mine and refine the critical metals … that make all of it possible,” he said.
The inescapable demand for nickel in multiple industries and its traditionally carbon-intensive production pose “a particular challenge for countries like India, where rapid industrial growth is essential for economic development. India must simultaneously meet ambitious climate goals and leverage market opportunities in the green economy,
The technology aligns well with India’s dual goals — to accelerate industrialisation and infrastructure development while staying committed to the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. It also reduces the need to import high-grade ores and maximises the potential of domestic, underutilised mineral assets,
The study focused on laterite ores, a type of soil-rich rocks that contain metals like nickel. They form in hot, tropical regions when rain and heat break down rocks over time, leaving behind metal-rich layers. They are abundant but tough to process. “While sulphide ores are found deeper underground and are easier to process, they’re rapidly depleting. The new method used in the study works efficiently on laterites, making it key to future nickel production,
ReplyDeleteIndia has substantial nickel laterite reserves, particularly in Odisha’s Sukinda region. “These deposits, containing 0.4-0.9% nickel as nickeliferous limonite in chromite mine overburden, are often overlooked because traditional methods require higher-grade ores. But [the team’s method] excels at extracting value from these lower-grade resources,” Dierk Raabe, professor and director of the Max Planck Institute and co-author of the study, said. He added that the technology could play a major role as the demand for sustainably produced materials continues to grow.
ReplyDeleteWithout such innovations, the sustainability revolution — whether in electrification, renewables, or green infrastructure — risks merely shifting the carbon dioxide and energy burdens from one sector to another. In other words, we might build a ‘greener’ world through EVs, solar panels, and high-performance magnets while still relying on carbon-intensive methods to mine and refine the critical metals … that make all of it possible,” he said.
ReplyDeleteThe inescapable demand for nickel in multiple industries and its traditionally carbon-intensive production pose “a particular challenge for countries like India, where rapid industrial growth is essential for economic development. India must simultaneously meet ambitious climate goals and leverage market opportunities in the green economy,
The technology aligns well with India’s dual goals — to accelerate industrialisation and infrastructure development while staying committed to the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. It also reduces the need to import high-grade ores and maximises the potential of domestic, underutilised mineral assets,
ReplyDelete