Atlas Materials, which is focused on securing the supply of clean nickel for electric vehicle batteries in North America, has entered into a commercial agreement with Société Minière Georges Montagnat (SMGM) for the supply of nickel ore to Atlas’ first commercial plant.

The Electra plant, which will be located in North America, will use Atlas’ processing technology to produce clean nickel, magnesium hydroxide and supplementary cementitious material by 2027.

SMGM will supply up to 200 000 wet metric tonnes a year of ore under a long-term contract on typical market terms.

Based in New Caledonia, SMGM is an established producer that meets European Union (EU) working and environmental standards. The ore supplied will enable Atlas to produce clean nickel for the North American EV battery sector. 

The Atlas process creates clean, battery-grade nickel with almost zero carbon dioxide when powered by renewable electricity and produces no waste or other emissions, while increasing the amount of ore available for batteries by 50%.

"Securing a long-term supply of responsibly produced ore is a significant milestone in Atlas’ development and we look forward to building a strong partnership with SMGM. Demand for nickel from the EV sector is forecast to grow beyond current capacity and Atlas is committed to providing a secure source of clean nickel to diversify global supply chains and support the energy transition,” comments Atlas co-founder and CEO Jeremy Ley.

"SMGM is delighted to partner with Atlas to provide a long-term supply of saprolite ore for its environmentally sustainable, energy efficient, zero waste and cost-effective technology. We anticipate that this commercial arrangement will benefit both parties while also expanding the supply of nickel ore to meet evolving demand. This is in line with our vision to develop a truly sustainable nickel industry,” SMGM general manager Thomas Sevetre adds.