Producing nickel matte in this way is CO2 intensive, page-25

Sustainability and evaluation of supply chains will only become more intensive. Look at the EU. EU car makers won't touch high emission nickel, because it destroys sustainability credentials and because of strict regulations.

The worse climate change gets, the tougher the rules get. China will be a pariah. If they produce high emission trash they won't be sold in developed countries. Eventually, the WTO will approve rules which punish countries that use high emission technologies. The idea is a dog, who wants to get battery grade nickel produced in this way at 4-7 times the emissions.