📋 Tender Overview
Silvery white metal, with good resistance to oxidation and corrosion and with the power to improve the properties of the metals and metallic alloys with which it is associated, nickel is another mineral considered strategic for Brazil. With wide application in the manufacture of stainless steel and other superalloys, it is becoming increasingly important as it is one of the ores used to manufacture electric car batteries.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Brazil has the third largest ore reserves in the world, with around 16 million tons, and is the eighth largest producer in the world. According to the National Mining Agency (ANM), this production generates R$47 million in fees per year. Ore exploration takes place in the states of Goiás (60%), Pará (28%) and Bahia (12%).
Nickel ore is a non-ferrous metal that can be found in two forms: sulfide (primary) or laterite (oxidized). This, combined with other metals such as molybdenum, copper, chromium and vanadium, for example, forms alloys with mechanical resistance. Furthermore, the material is used to produce coins from different countries. But its greatest consumption is for the production of stainless steel, present in pans, household appliances, cars and several other products present in our daily lives. Sulfided nickel is also used to produce electric batteries.
In addition to all these uses, nickel can increase crop productivity, reduce the occurrence of diseases such as Asian rust, in addition to improving the sustainability of agricultural activity. We can see that the mineral is an asset in several sectors and that it drives several economic chains.
