Lifezone Metals has successfully produced nickel, copper and cobalt cathode materials from concentrates derived from borehole core samples at its Kabanga project in northwest Tanzania. This achievement marks the first metal production from Kabanga since its discovery by the United Nations Development Program in 1975. The production was realized through a pilot-scale refinery test conducted at Lifezone’s laboratory in Perth, Australia.
The test work utilized Lifezone’s proprietary processing technology, Hydromet, known for its lower carbon footprint compared to traditional pyrometallurgical smelting methods. Previous tests with Hydromet have achieved nickel recoveries exceeding 98.5%. Chris Showalter, Lifezone’s CEO, highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating: “This achievement, stemming from extensive in-house laboratory tests, underscores our dedication to innovation and advancing this world-class resource to market.”
Mike Adams, Lifezone’s chief technology officer, emphasized the success of the hydrometallurgical techniques, noting that the pilot plant’s performance closely aligned with process simulation models. “This success not only demonstrates the efficacy of our techniques but also our commitment to sustainable metal production,” Adams added.
Kabanga project overview
The Kabanga project is recognized as one of the largest and highest-grade undeveloped nickel sulphide resources globally. It has undergone over 583 kilometers of exploration and appraisal drilling, with past investments exceeding US$293 million by previous owners Glencore and Barrick Gold to define the orebody.
In 2021, Lifezone, then a privately owned entity, acquired the project and secured its mining license. The project also gained support from BHP, the world’s largest mining company, which now holds a stake in Kabanga. The deposit is estimated to contain 881,000 tonnes of nickel metal within 43.6 million tonnes of measured and indicated resources, grading 2.02% nickel. An additional 391,000 tonnes of nickel metal is found in the inferred resource category, comprising 17.5 million tonnes at 2.23% nickel.
Project development
The development of the Kabanga project, which includes a planned Hydromet refinery at Kahama, Tanzania, will proceed in two phases. The initial stage will involve mining 1.7 million tonnes per year, with a planned expansion to add another 1.7 million tonnes. The specifics of the project’s development will be detailed in a definitive feasibility study, which Lifezone aims to complete this quarter.
