Sumitomo Metal to use own process for higher ore grade recovery in Palawan operations

Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. (SMM) on Monday said it has developed a technology that extracts higher iron grade from nickel ore, which the company will use in its Philippine operations

 

The company, which holds majority stakes in nickel processing companies in the Philippines, said it succeeded in raising the grade of iron extracted from tailings to 60 percent based on a review of the process for recovering nickel and cobalt using high pressure acid leach (HPAL).

 

The tailings left by nickel and cobalt recovery in its Philippine operations contain iron in the form of hematite, Sumitomo Metal noted. But the grade of the hematite, however, is "low," approximately 30 percent and 40 percent and cannot be used as raw material for iron and steel.

 

"SMM, has, however, through a review of the process after the leaching and recovery of nickel and cobalt using HPAL technology, succeeded in raising the grade of the iron in this tailing to approximately 60 percent, which is equivalent to normal iron ore," the company said.

 

"When this technology is developed for commercial use, not only will it allow a more efficient utilization of resources but it will also make a large contribution to reducing the amount of waste disposed of in landfills," it added.

 

At its majority-owned Coral Bay Nickel Corporation in Palawan, Sumitomo Metal, currently produces nickel-cobalt mixed sulfides using HPAL technology. — VS, GMA News