Study: high demand for electric cars could lead to nickel shortage

Study: High demand for electric cars could lead to nickel shortage

A strongly increasing demand due to the e-mobilitat and at the same time high recycling requirements could put prere on the supply of nickel in the coming years. The important metal – so far mainly used in steel production – was allowed to prefabricated in the production of batteries in still rough circumference. The German Commodity Agency (Dera) is estimated in a recent analysis that nickel is already 2025 behind the use as part of alloys and stainless steels for the second highest for energy storage, for example in electrical drives.

This could be accompanied by risks with available and sustainability, it is called to the study presented on Tuesday. "We ame that the global nickel needs will increase around 2.4 to 3.4 million tonnes of 2025 depending on the scenario today", So Michael Szurlies from the Federal Institute for Earth Sciences and Raw Materials (BGR) in Hannover. The DERA Berat as a special department of the BGR the Federal Government, Economics and NGOs in raw material topics, for example for security of supply and the ocological consequences.

Nickel is now "Key" for the traffic and energy transition. As with other resources, Germany and many other countries are dependent on those states in which the gros is required. In the case of nickel is the Indonesia. The Sudostasian Land was allowed to rise in the course of the next four years – in the case of undisputed top position in the demand – now also to the large actor in the refinement (raffinade), the Dera esteem. On the world market for nickel, the concentration and thus the power of the main suppliers continued to increase. To what extent this is due to prices of end products is still hard to say.

Scarce raw materials

Especially the auto industry, but also mechanical engineering with solar or wind power focus, steel manufacturers or the IT and medical technology industry depend on a continuous supply of base materials. This also applies to elements such as cobalt and rare earths or for lithium, which is usually central battery raw material in pure e-drives. The parallel reorientation in the direction of nickel in battery technologies, the raw materials strategists still evaluate as a Zasur: within four years, the proportion of these applications could grow from currently a good 5 to up to 21 percent.

You also have to ask questions about how more nickel and nickel connections could be recovered at the end of the lifespan of the products – and how to achieve a less environmentally harmful and at the same time socially equal requirement. The new supply chain law in Germany is committed to coarse customers soon to actively review compliance with human rights and okostandards. The BGR sees progress in energy efficiency. However, the experts scrutinize: "On the other hand, the increasing degradation in tropical regions is a problem due to the gross surface demand."

Commodity claim in Europe

In order to become less vulnerable at stallions or supercered supplies, Europe rated more demand on the continent – at least with some metals occurring here. This also belongs nickel. But it is doubtful if the quantities are enough if electric cars prevail. "It’s good if there are additional capacity in Europe", said Dera boss Peter Buchholz Youngst.

"Only the projects must be a cost-effective competitive." Nickel will, for example, already in Canada or in Australia "According to the best available environmental and social standards" won.

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