Sherritt International Corporation is a world leader in using hydrometallurgical processes to mine and refine nickel and cobalt. Focusing on increasing domestic critical minerals supply, reducing GHG emissions, and advancing decarbonization, Sherritt has been actively advancing its Midstream Refinery Project. This project aims to produce high-purity nickel and cobalt sulphate for North American and global precursor cathode active material (pCAM) production, supporting the lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle value chain. The refinery utilizes established process unit operations with a unique processing philosophy and configuration to upgrade mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) from both international and, when available, domestic sources, resulting in reduced reagent use, waste effluent, and technical risks associated with commercial implementation.
Successful implementation of this project aligns with ERA’s Technology Roadmap to achieve economic, environmental, and carbon neutrality goals by de-risking an innovative, home-grown Alberta technology. It also supports Alberta’s and Canada’s GHG emission reduction targets through on-shoring value-added refining of nickel and cobalt, two critical minerals. The process flowsheet, developed entirely in-house by Sherritt experts, will be piloted at Sherritt’s hydrometallurgical testing facilities in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) from 5 to 7, ready for commercialization. Data from the tests will help advance the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) or Feasibility Study (FS), refining the flowsheet and assessing/confirming economic viability, and providing the engineering and design parameters needed for a FEL 2 or 3 preliminary study with a Class 4 or 3 capital cost estimate.