BRIN Researcher Finds More Efficient Nickel Processing Technology
- 09 Jul 2026 09:27 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- BRIN researchers developed a new nickel processing technology that can utilize up to 98% of nickel ore residue.
- The innovation supports Indonesia's mineral downstreaming strategy by applying circular economy principles.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Researchers at the Metallurgy Research Center of the National Innovation and Research Agency (BRIN) have developed an innovative nickel processing technology that can convert up to 98 percent of nickel ore residue into value-added industrial products.
The breakthrough is seen as a new chapter in Indonesia’s mineral downstreaming efforts, offering a more environmentally friendly approach through the application of a circular economy concept.
A researcher at BRIN’s Metallurgy Research Center, Iwan Setiawan, said the innovation has also led to around five patents related to the nickel processing methods developed by the team.
“Nickel ore generally contains only about 1–2 percent nickel. That means more than 98 percent of the material has the potential to become waste if it is not utilized. Therefore, any processing method must be able to optimize the use of all components contained in the ore,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Iwan explained that the technologies currently in common use are generally able to process only one type of nickel ore, namely saprolite or limonite. In addition, those processes generate large amounts of waste because the nickel content in the ore is relatively low.
According to him, BRIN’s innovation has an advantage because it can process both types of nickel ore, saprolite and limonite, within a single process approach. The technology is a modified version of the Caron process, adapted to the current condition of Indonesia’s nickel reserves.
“Nickel reserves continue to change, and ore quality is becoming more diverse. Therefore, new technology is needed that is more adaptive to the characteristics of the available ore,” he said, as quoted by Antara.
In addition to being able to process various types of ore, the technology is also designed to reduce energy consumption compared with conventional pyrometallurgical processes.
One of its main advantages is minimizing waste by making use of other elements that have so far not been utilized optimally.
In BRIN’s process, not only nickel is extracted, but also iron and magnesium contained in the ore. Iron can be processed into value-added products such as Fe2O3 for pigments or iron oxalate as a battery raw material, while magnesium is processed into compounds that can be used for various industrial needs.
He added that the approach is in line with the principles of resource efficiency and the circular economy, which are now guiding the development of the mineral industry in many countries. ***
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