Creating Tanzania's mining and beneficiation champion
About us
Tembo Nickel aims to become a sustainable, inclusive and responsible company supplying critical battery minerals to the world and at the same time creating shared value.
Tembo is the Swahili word for elephant and represents strength, community and longevity.
About The Kabanga project
About The Kabanga NICKEL project
Extracting, refining and producing Class 1 nickel, copper and cobalt responsibly
The Kabanga Nickel project will be a mining and processing operation producing high-grade nickel, cobalt and copper refined metals entirely in Tanzania. Our refining, using a hydrometallurgical processing technology, has the potential to be more cost efficient than smelting and produces far less harmful carbon and sulphur dioxide.
Situated in the North-West of Tanzania, the Kabanga Nickel project hosts one of the world's largest development-ready nickel sulphide deposits. Mining operations will take place in Ngara, with the final metals to be refined in Kahama.
The refining operation built in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region, is expected to benefit from existing and new infrastructure, transforming logistics and project economics. The project will create skilled and technical jobs and provide support for settlements around the project area.
The LOCATION
The Kabanga Nickel Project,
North-West Tanzania
LifeZone Metals LIMITED
The supply chain solution for cleaner metals
Lifezone Metals Limited (“Lifezone”) holds proprietary hydromet technology that has the potential to reduce emissions in nickel production; with the opportunity to cost-effectively provide responsibly sourced cleaner metals to global battery markets.
As a modern metals company, Lifezone was created to support the needs of the global energy transition, producing metals to support growing demand for batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Lifezone has sustainability at its core and a mission to supply the global battery metals market with cleaner, low carbon nickel, cobalt, copper, platinum and palladium. Our key differentiator is that we expect to supply decarbonising supply chains with metals to support battery production which are produced without smelting.
Working with BHP and the Government of Tanzania as key partners, Lifezone is developing the Kabanga Nickel project, a world-class deposit of metals essential for the clean energy transition to combat climate change.
To find out more, visit www.lifezonemetals.com
Hydromet
Advantages of using Lifezone's hydromet technology
Lifezone’s metals production is differentiated by a cleaner processing technology, "hydromet", which has the potential to eliminate carbon intensive smelting from nickel production. This hydrometallurgical technology is an alternative to smelting, a high-heat process known for its toxic output and intense energy consumption. Hydromet has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions significantly and eliminates harmful sulphur dioxide emissions whilst reducing reliance on heavy electricity consumption compared to traditional smelting. Production exported globally will generate flow-on benefits locally, such as royalties and tax revenues over the life of the project, with skills training and job creation.
Lifezone’s metals production is differentiated by a cleaner processing technology, "hydromet", which has the potential to eliminate carbon intensive smelting from nickel production. This hydrometallurgical technology is an alternative to smelting, a high-heat process known for its toxic output and intense energy consumption. Hydromet has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions significantly and eliminates harmful sulphur dioxide emissions whilst reducing reliance on heavy electricity consumption compared to traditional smelting. Production exported globally will generate flow-on benefits locally, such as royalties and tax revenues over the life of the project, with skills training and job creation.
Environmental, Social & Governance
Responsibly sourced metals
Tembo Nickel is committed to the goal of sustainable development. We believe that operating to leading standards of health and safety means contributing to the socio-economic development of our host communities. Ongoing engagement with our stakeholders in open dialogue is central to our corporate responsibility approach.
Our strategy is driven by adherence to established global standards governing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. We work as partners with our stakeholders, to create alignment based on shared and sustainable values.
- maintain our social license to operate,
- attract and retain the best people,
- generate better opportunities, and optimise our risk management.
Tembo Nickel’s values are based on
RESPECT, HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND SAFETY.
The Kabanga Nickel project is one of the largest development-ready nickel sulphide deposit in the world. Once in operation, the Kabanga Nickel project will produce high-purity battery grade nickel, cobalt and copper refined metals in Tanzania. The mine-to-metal operation will use hydromet technology that has the potential to be more cost efficient than smelting. The hydromet process is expected to reduce the carbon footprint, minimise environmental impact, lower capital and production costs, and contribute significantly to the economic growth of Tanzania.
Lifezone’s patented hydrometallurgical (‘hydromet’) processing technology is key to unlocking the value of the Kabanga Nickel project, a large-scale, high-quality nickel sulphide project in North-West Tanzania.
The project will take place entirely in Tanzania. We will mine ore and produce a rich concentrate at Kabanga. This will then be transported to Kahama, where it will be processed further using our propriety green hydrometallurgical process to produce the finished metal ready to be used around the world.
This approach is expected to provide equitable sharing of the full economic benefits, and also removes the need to ship ore concentrates overseas for beneficiation, resulting in an estimated 25,000km less transportation(1), further enhancing the environmental credentials of the Kabanga Nickel project.
It is an innovative model that allows us to focus our attention solely on Tanzania, enhancing our ability to work with local stakeholders and incorporate newer technology and methodology into our operations here(1).
(1) Than if the ore is shipped to North America and Europe for processing and refining.
Lifezone is a developer of responsibly sourced metals to the battery and electric vehicles markets. Through Lifezone's proprietary hydromet technology, the aim is to create value in battery metals value chain with operations that produce lower carbon intensity metals across mining and processing.
Lifezone's strategy is to invest in and secure world-class deposits of metals and minerals essential for clean energy and emissions reductions to combat climate change.
Every element of the Lifezone strategy is driven by the highest standards of ESG, and a commitment to sustainable value - from low energy processing technology, to creating shared value with Tanzania, to providing OEMS and other manufacturers with the assurance that our products support “responsible sourcing".
Lifezone is a consolidation of two interconnected companies: Kabanga Nickel Limited ("Kabanga Nickel") and Lifezone Limited. Its key business units are: a mining asset in Kabanga Nickel and a low power intensity processing business, Lifezone Limited, which will support processing of mined metals, and the recycling of metals used in devices like auto catalysts.
This project will commence in phases. Work has commenced on exploration assessment, resettlement and other baselines before initial construction can begin.
The full construction of the mine, infrastructure and refinery will take a number of years to complete. Our approach means we can employ the most sustainable best practice as we set out our path to being fully operational.
Over time, there will be different opportunities for training, skills development and progress as the mining operations and associated infrastructure run to completion and full operating capacity.
There are existing key infrastructure and amenities at Kahama that make its setting and logistics the right location for the refinery.
The SGR rail extension to Rwanda and Burundi passes through Kahama allowing convenient shipment of product for local sale or international markets.
There is reliable power from the Tanesco Grid and there is existing source of trained labour and service providers in the area.
Kahama has the potential to be East Africa’s refinery hub as it will be able to process base and precious metal concentrates for gold, copper and other nickel operations.
Hydromet technology is a method to produce concentrate far removed from the conventional, energy-intensive pyrometallurgical processing route of smelting and refining. Lifezone’s hydromet technology uses pressure oxidation and solvent extraction-electrowinning to extract valuable metals, with no melting of the rock.
This process has the potential to eliminate the need to export concentrate long distances to European or Asian smelters and refineries. This has the potential to reduce capital and operating costs, with less environmental impact, while maximizing value and returns within Tanzania.
By applying hydrometallurgy technology to process the ores and produce final high-grade metals, we expect to bypass the traditional polluting smelting process, resulting in far less energy use and pollution.
Hydrometallurgy is an aqueous processing technology that more selectively targets the valuable metals compared to smelting which heats up all the ore to over 1,600 degrees Celsius. It is cheaper, more environmentally friendly and can all be achieved at one site - compared to traditional smelting.
By adopting this method and operating solely within Tanzania, we expect to achieve five times less electricity consumption, five times less carbon dioxide emissions and zero sulphur dioxide emissions.
The great advantage of building this project out from scratch is that we can apply modern best in class practices that will lock in appropriate sustainability and Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) standards, ensuring the environment is protected and allowed to flourish.
The community benefits are many and will include job creation, skills building, support for community projects, business opportunities to support the services required by the mine and refinery.
- The Government of Tanzania owns 16% of equity in the business as free carry shares
- There will be full beneficiation in-country
- Potential for Tanzania to be positioned to become East Africa’s refinery hub
- Potential for Tanzania to supply refined, responsibly sourced Class 1 nickel to the global market
- The project will create jobs, business opportunities and build skills in Ngara, in Kahama and across the nation as well as economically elevating communities surrounding the project area
The review and update which is currently underway of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) will assess this.
The review and update which is currently underway of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) will assess this.
Tembo Nickel will employ as many from the local community as possible keeping in mind that each stage of the project’s development will require different skills sets. Tembo Nickel skills survey will assess to determine what level of skills are in Ngara District for potential jobs as required. Tembo Nickel also intends to provide a wide range of trainings throughout the project life of mine. Current estimates are approximately 900 in mine and 270 workers in the refinery.
Via Toll-Free Number: 0800750258
Via email at info@tembonickel.com
