Ann: Further Ni-Cu-Co-3PGE Assays & Drilling to Recommence, page-23

‘Nickel needs to be incentivised more positively’: Minister King - Australian Mining

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has told The Australian Financial Review (AFR) that she supports a green price premium for nickel produced in Australia.

The pricing structure would differentiate between the Australian-produced nickel that follows strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and the ‘dirty’ nickel produced in Indonesia.

King told the AFR that battery and car manufacturers may need greater incentives to pay for ethically-produced nickel.

“We are yet to see any meaningful ESG premium for green or ethically sourced nickel or nickel sulphides,” King said. “These are increasingly important issues for importer nations of nickel such as members of the European Union.

“It may be that manufacturers … using nickel need to be incentivised more positively to pursue nickel mined and refined with high ESG standards. And, importantly, these ESG standards need to be authentic, realistic and achievable.”

The support for a green nickel premium follows the US Government’s decision to block Indonesia’s bid to become a nickel free-trade partner, which was applauded by nickel miners such as Chalice Mining, BHP and Wyloo (formerly Wyloo Metals).

The AFR reported that Wyloo is currently gathering backing from the London Metals Exchange to distinguish between ESG-produced nickel and ‘dirty’ nickel from Indonesia.