The largest
nickel mine in the world: Weda Bay Nickel (Indonesia)

36.3 Mwt
(million wet tonnes)
sold in 2023 by Weda Bay Nickel (Indonesia)

5.8 Mwt
(million wet tonnes)
produced in 2023 by Société Le Nickel (New Caledonia)

What is nickel used for?

Nickel can be recycled endlessly without any loss of quality and has physical and chemical properties that make it a highly prized material.

Nickel is mainly used in the stainless steel production process. Its ability to retain its mechanical properties at high temperatures means that nickel can be used in special steels and superalloys, which are widely utilized in the aeronautics industry, for example.

It also offers greater energy density in electric vehicle batteries, which makes it an essential metal in terms of the energy transition.

Nickel is also used in the food safety, pharmaceutical and surgicalsectors. Corrosion-resistant nickel-based alloys are used in the chemical industry and in environmental protection systems.

Our mining and processing activities

Thanks to SLN (Société Le Nickel, its long-standing subsidiary in New Caledonia), Eramet is one of the world’s leading producers of ferronickel. SLN operates 5 mining facilities across the country, as well as the Doniambo plant in Nouméa, which specializes in ferronickel.

In Indonesia, Eramet and its partner Tsingshan, the world’s leading stainless steel producer, opened the Weda Bay Nickel site, now the world’s largest nickel mine, at the end of 2019. The ore extracted there supplies several local ferroalloy plants, including one operated in partnership by Tsingshan and Eramet.

SLN: a long-standing leader in the nickel industry

Weda Bay Nickel, a world-class mine

Our products

Ferronickel

Nickel ore

Nickel ferroalloys

SLN by-products

Responsible mining and industrial expertise

As at all our mining sites, our expertise in nickel mining and metallurgy goes hand in hand with responsible practices and strong social, societal and environmental commitments.

  • 59 hectares of surface area rehabilitated on SLN-managed mine sites in 2023
  • 1,075 hectares revegetated by Weda Bay Nickel, including to prevent soil erosion

SLN is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 50001 certified. SLN and WBN, like all Eramet Group mines, are part of the IRMA (Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance) audit program.

Sustainable operations in New Caledonia

Ongoing dialogue with stakeholders in Indonesia

Our other products

Manganese

Mineral sands

Lithium