Global mining companies have called for a green premium for sustainably produced nickel traded on the London Metal Exchange, as a flood of allegedly “dirty” supplies from Indonesia squeezes profits for producers.
BHP, the world’s largest mining group, and Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest, who owns miner Wyloo Metals, have been pushing the LME to distinguish between so-called “dirty” nickel and cleaner supplies.
Nickel mining in Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of the electric car battery and steelmaking ingredient, has faced growing criticism from environmental groups for causing forestry loss, mining waste pollution and high carbon emissions because of its reliance on coal-fired power.