Nickel Industries announced that its Excelsior Nickel Cobalt (ENC) high-pressure acid leach project produced its first mixed hydroxide precipitate in July 2026, marking the start of production at the Indonesian battery-grade nickel project.

 

Located in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, ENC is designed to produce mixed hydroxide precipitate, nickel and cobalt sulphates, and nickel cathode. Nickel Industries currently holds a 46% interest in the project, which is expected to produce more than 72,000 tonnes of contained nickel per year once fully ramped up.

 

The first MHP was produced using limonite ore supplied by Nickel Industries’ Hengjaya Mine. The ore is prepared at the mine before being transported directly to ENC through a 22km slurry pipeline.

 

According to the company, the integrated mine-to-metal model provides the project with a secure, long-term ore supply while allowing greater control across the production chain.

 

ENC will further process the MHP at its integrated refinery, with the first batch of nickel cathode expected in August 2026. The project will continue ramping up progressively toward its nameplate capacity.