According to Brazilian Nickel PLC, continuous nickel production has begun from its 100% owned Piauí nickel-cobalt laterite project after an 18-month construction and commissioning period.

The company said that the first nickel hydroxide product was produced from the world’s first stand-alone nickel laterite heap leaching operation. The initial production at PNP1000 will hike to produce 1,400 tons annually of nickel in NHP, which is the first step towards higher production later.

The Piauí project made headlines in 2020 after attracting a US$25 million investment from the US government, via one of the proposed mine’s funding partners – technology metals investment company TechMet.

In order to decline the US’ reliance on the supply chain dominated by China, the US$60 billion US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) acquired the equity stake in TechMet as part of a push by former US President Donald Trump.

This project will provide 215 jobs, and 70% of the jobs have been filled by the residents of the local communities.