Chinese battery material producer GEM has partnered with Brazil's Vale to establish a $1.42 billion nickel processing plant in Indonesia. The agreement, signed on November 11, focuses on building a high-pressure acid leach facility on Sulawesi Island, which will process nickel laterite ore into 66,000 tons of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) annually, a critical component for electric vehicle batteries. GEM and its investors will hold a 70% stake in the project, while Vale will own the remaining 30%. The facility aims to adhere to zero-carbon production principles and is expected to begin construction after obtaining necessary permits.
