" To put it another way, the laterite Ni producers will be all...

" To put it another way, the laterite Ni producers will be all shut in well before this goes under water. "

The Direct Nickel process could very well challenge the above statement.

http://www.directnickel.com/

The demonstration plant in Perth is currently in the final stages of hot commissioning, with an update on progress due in the next week or two. Demonstration of the process will run through the rest of this year, which on completion, Direct Nickel hope to be in a position to announce a proven process.

What would a proven process mean ?

It would be disruptive - a pound of nickel in sulphide ore would have the same value as a pound of nickel in laterite ore.

Yes it's a bold claim, but Direct Nickel believe they've cracked the processing of nickel laterite.