As rain falls through the atmosphere, it absorbs CO2 which forms carbonic acid in the droplets.
When this dilute acid interacts with minerals containing magnesium and calcium, it weathers them and, in the process, stores the CO2 in a stable bicarbonate form in groundwater which ultimately makes its way into the ocean.
Our enhanced rock weathering project accelerates this natural process, utilising smelter slag from our Barro Alto and Codemin operations in Goiás state in Brazil as a safe, magnesium-rich mineral fertiliser.
This approach not only removes CO2 from the atmosphere, but also provides pH correction and magnesium to magnesium-depleted agricultural soils. Ideally located, surrounded by fertile agricultural land, our existing stockpiles of material have the potential to sequester >15 Mt of CO2.
We are in the process of developing the appropriate agricultural and carbon partnerships to deliver the agricultural products that will provide significant agronomic benefit to crops and sequester carbon at scale. This circular approach to our largest waste stream in our nickel business will allow us to deliver carbon removal at scale and a zero-waste mine, while delivering a positive impact on both agriculture and soils, and economic activity and employment beyond the mine gate.
