Umicore Highlights Nickel Recycling Amid European Supply Challenges
On Friday, Umicore released a detailed analysis on the role of nickel in global value chains, highlighting its critical applications and the need to secure European supply. The Belgian group positions its recycling expertise as key to meeting the European Union's objectives for raw material autonomy.
An Essential Metal for Critical Supply Chains
According to Umicore, nickel is used in key sectors: electric vehicle batteries, aircraft engines, stainless steels, surgical instruments, coatings... The group indicates that two-thirds of the global primary production of nickel are destined for austenitic stainless steels, particularly used in construction, transportation, and industry.
Stefan Mueller, head of the Base Metal Finishing division at Umicore, states: "If nickel suddenly disappeared, we would have a serious problem." The metal offers corrosion resistance, stability at extreme temperatures (beyond -150 °C and near 1,000 °C), as well as catalytic and magnetic properties.
Recycling and Compliance with European Sovereignty Goals
Umicore emphasizes its role in meeting the European 2030 targets for nickel extraction, processing, and recycling. The company operates a pilot battery recycling plant in Hoboken (Belgium) that recovers more than 95% of the nickel from end-of-life batteries.
Michael Baltes, chief metallurgist for nickel and cobalt, highlights: "Nickel supply is becoming increasingly complex due to geopolitical and environmental factors." Umicore asserts that its research and development efforts focus on more efficient refining and recycling processes to ensure a sustainable supply chain in Europe.
