World First: TMC and PAMCO Achieve a New Nodule Processing Milestone, Unlocking Critical Energy & Steelmaking Materials at Existing Facilities
TMC and PAMCO have achieved a significant milestone in nodule processing, successfully producing high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and manganese silicate during a 14-day smelting campaign at PAMCO's facility in Hachinohe, Japan. The campaign processed approximately 450 tonnes of calcine material using a 3,000 kVA DC electric-arc furnace.
The achievement is part of an 18-month feasibility program utilizing a 2,000-tonne nodule sample collected during TMC's 2022 test mining. The process demonstrates TMC's capital-light approach by leveraging PAMCO's existing facility, which has been operational since 1965, eliminating the need for new processing plants.
This milestone supports TMC's preparation to submit the world's first exploitation application for commercial production. In November 2023, TMC signed an MOU with PAMCO to study the feasibility of processing 1.3 million tonnes of wet polymetallic nodules annually.
TMC e PAMCO hanno raggiunto un traguardo significativo nel trattamento dei noduli, producendo con successo una lega di nichel-rame-cobalto di alta qualità e silicato di manganese durante una campagna di fusione di 14 giorni presso l'impianto di PAMCO a Hachinohe, Giappone. La campagna ha trattato circa 450 tonnellate di materiale calcina utilizzando un forno ad arco elettrico in corrente continua da 3.000 kVA.
Questo risultato fa parte di un programma di fattibilità di 18 mesi che utilizza un campione di nodulo da 2.000 tonnellate raccolto durante il test di estrazione di TMC nel 2022. Il processo dimostra l'approccio a basso capitale di TMC sfruttando l'impianto esistente di PAMCO, operativo dal 1965, eliminando la necessità di nuovi impianti di lavorazione.
Questo traguardo supporta la preparazione di TMC per presentare la prima domanda al mondo per l'applicazione di sfruttamento per la produzione commerciale. Nel novembre 2023, TMC ha firmato un MOU con PAMCO per studiare la fattibilità di trattare annualmente 1,3 milioni di tonnellate di noduli polimetallici umidi.
TMC y PAMCO han alcanzado un hito significativo en el procesamiento de nódulos, produciendo con éxito una aleación de níquel-cobre-cobalto de alta calidad y silicato de manganeso durante una campaña de fundición de 14 días en la instalación de PAMCO en Hachinohe, Japón. La campaña procesó aproximadamente 450 toneladas de material calcina utilizando un horno de arco eléctrico de corriente continua de 3,000 kVA.
Este logro es parte de un programa de viabilidad de 18 meses que utiliza una muestra de nódulo de 2,000 toneladas recolectada durante la minería de prueba de TMC en 2022. El proceso demuestra el enfoque de bajo capital de TMC aprovechando las instalaciones existentes de PAMCO, que han estado operativas desde 1965, eliminando la necesidad de nuevas plantas de procesamiento.
Este hito apoya la preparación de TMC para presentar la primera solicitud de explotación del mundo para la producción comercial. En noviembre de 2023, TMC firmó un MOU con PAMCO para estudiar la viabilidad de procesar anualmente 1.3 millones de toneladas de nódulos polimetálicos húmedos.
TMC와 PAMCO는 일본 하치노헤에 있는 PAMCO 시설에서 14일간의 제련 캠페인을 통해 고급 니켈-구리-코발트 합금과 망간 실리케이트를 성공적으로 생산하며 노듈 처리에서 중요한 이정표를 세웠습니다. 이 캠페인은 3,000 kVA 직류 아크로 변환된 약 450톤의 칼시네 재료를 처리했습니다.
이 성과는 TMC의 2022년 테스트 채굴에서 수집된 2,000톤 노듈 샘플을 활용하는 18개월의 타당성 프로그램의 일환입니다. 이 과정은 1965년부터 운영되고 있는 PAMCO의 기존 시설을 활용하여 TMC의 자본 경량 접근 방식을 보여주며, 새로운 처리 공장의 필요성을 없앱니다.
이 이정표는 TMC가 상업 생산을 위한 세계 최초의 개발 신청서를 제출하는 준비를 지원합니다. 2023년 11월, TMC는 PAMCO와 연간 130만 톤의 습식 다금속 노듈을 처리하는 타당성을 연구하기 위한 MOU를 체결했습니다.
TMC et PAMCO ont atteint une étape importante dans le traitement des nodules, en produisant avec succès un alliage de nickel-cuivre-cobalt de haute qualité et du silicate de manganèse lors d'une campagne de fusion de 14 jours dans l'installation de PAMCO à Hachinohe, au Japon. La campagne a traité environ 450 tonnes de matériau calciné en utilisant un four à arc électrique à courant continu de 3 000 kVA.
Cette réalisation fait partie d'un programme de faisabilité de 18 mois utilisant un échantillon de nodule de 2 000 tonnes collecté lors du test minier de TMC en 2022. Le processus démontre l'approche légère en capital de TMC en s'appuyant sur l'installation existante de PAMCO, qui est opérationnelle depuis 1965, éliminant ainsi le besoin de nouvelles usines de traitement.
Ce jalon soutient la préparation de TMC à soumettre la première demande d'exploitation au monde pour la production commerciale. En novembre 2023, TMC a signé un MOU avec PAMCO pour étudier la faisabilité de traiter 1,3 million de tonnes de nodules polymétalliques humides par an.
TMC und PAMCO haben einen bedeutenden Meilenstein in der Verarbeitung von Nodule erreicht, indem sie während einer 14-tägigen Schmelzkampagne in der PAMCO-Anlage in Hachinohe, Japan, erfolgreich eine hochgradige Nickel-Kupfer-Kobalt-Legierung und Mangan-Silikat produziert haben. Die Kampagne verarbeitete etwa 450 Tonnen Kalzinmaterial mithilfe eines 3.000 kVA Gleichstrom- Lichtbogenschmelzofens.
Dieser Erfolg ist Teil eines 18-monatigen Machbarkeitsprogramms, das eine 2.000-Tonnen-Nodulprobe nutzt, die während des Testabbaus von TMC im Jahr 2022 gesammelt wurde. Der Prozess zeigt den kapitalarmen Ansatz von TMC, indem er die bestehende Anlage von PAMCO nutzt, die seit 1965 in Betrieb ist, wodurch die Notwendigkeit neuer Verarbeitungsanlagen entfällt.
Dieser Meilenstein unterstützt die Vorbereitung von TMC, den weltweit ersten Antrag auf Ausbeutung für die kommerzielle Produktion einzureichen. Im November 2023 unterzeichnete TMC ein MOU mit PAMCO, um die Machbarkeit der Verarbeitung von jährlich 1,3 Millionen Tonnen nasser polymetallischer Nodule zu prüfen.
- Successfully demonstrated commercial-scale production of high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy
- Capital-light approach utilizing existing facilities eliminates billions in CAPEX
- Signed MOU with PAMCO for processing 1.3 million tonnes of nodules annually
- Near-zero-solid-waste processing approach validated
- Commercial production still pending regulatory approval
- Full-scale operations dependent on successful exploitation application
Insights
The successful demonstration of commercial-scale nodule processing represents a transformative breakthrough in the critical minerals supply chain. By leveraging PAMCO's existing 3,000 kVA DC electric-arc furnace facility, TMC has validated a capital-efficient path to production that could revolutionize the economics of deep-sea mining.
The technical achievement carries several important implications:
- The successful processing of 450 tonnes of calcine material proves the scalability of TMC's approach, setting the stage for the planned processing of 1.3 million tonnes of wet polymetallic nodules annually
- The near-zero-solid-waste processing methodology represents a significant environmental advantage over traditional mining operations
- By utilizing PAMCO's existing infrastructure, TMC potentially saves billions in CAPEX while reducing project development time by several years
- The production of both high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and manganese silicate creates dual revenue streams, enhancing project economics
The timing is particularly strategic as TMC prepares to submit the world's first exploitation application for commercial production. This first-mover advantage, combined with the demonstrated processing capability, positions TMC favorably in the race to supply critical minerals for energy transition and steel production.
The successful integration into PAMCO's facility, operational since 1965, significantly de-risks the onshore component of TMC's project. This validation of commercial viability could accelerate definitive processing agreements and strengthen TMC's position in negotiations with potential partners and customers.
- TMC and PAMCO have successfully demonstrated the production flowsheet for its initial commercial production using a 2,000-tonne sample of nodules collected during TMC subsidiary Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.’s 2022 test mining, at PAMCO’s commercial operating facility in Hachinohe, Japan
- Following the commercial-scale production of calcine in September 2024, PAMCO engineers fed calcine material into the company’s 3,000 kVA DC electric-arc furnace where it was smelted into high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and manganese silicate products
- The manganese silicate is used to produce silicomanganese for steelmaking, which studies show has significant cost advantages over conventional manganese ores
- Over a 14-day continuous campaign, PAMCO successfully demonstrated the process, collected and analyzed data, confirmed process control set points, monitored furnace integrity, and gained operational experience
- This demonstration supports anticipated definitive processing agreements as TMC prepares to submit the world’s first exploitation application for commercial production
- The achievement further validates TMC’s capital-light approach by utilizing PAMCO’s existing facility, which has been in commercial operation since 1965, eliminating the need for upfront onshore capital expenditures
NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TMC the metals company Inc. (Nasdaq: TMC) (“TMC” or the “Company”), an explorer of the world’s largest undeveloped resource of critical battery metals, today announced that it had successfully produced a high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and manganese silicate during a smelting campaign, run as part of the 18-month feasibility program designed to process a 2,000-tonne sample of deep-seafloor polymetallic nodules at its partner PAMCO’s Rotary Kiln Electric-Arc Furnace (RKEF) operating facility in Hachinohe, Japan.
Following the recovery of 3,000 tonnes of nodules during 2022 test mining by TMC’s subsidiary Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI) from its exploration contract area D in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ), 2,000 tonnes were delivered to PAMCO’s RKEF plant to go through a feasibility program consisting of calcining and smelting campaigns. Following the commercial-scale production of calcine in September 2024, over a 14-day continuous smelting campaign in January and February 2025, PAMCO operators fed approximately 450 tonnes of calcine material into a 3,000 kVA DC electric-arc furnace and produced high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and manganese silicate [see video]. By utilizing existing processing capacity with minimal modifications to existing equipment, TMC can avoid the high costs and risks associated with building new processing plants, while demonstrating the feasibility of integrating processing of CCZ nodules into established metallurgical operations.
The completion of the processing feasibility study marks a key milestone in the company’s efforts to de-risk the onshore component of its project as it prepares to submit the world’s first exploitation application to begin commercial nodule production in international waters.
TMC’s Head of Onshore Development, Dr Jeffrey Donald, commented: “Successfully converting nodules into high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and manganese silicate at PAMCO’s existing facility is a major milestone, eliminating the need to build new infrastructure from scratch. PAMCO has proven they are ready to receive and process nodules as soon as TMC delivers them. Their deep expertise in large-scale nickel laterite processing, combined with skilled engineers and operators, has been instrumental in demonstrating that nodule processing can be seamlessly integrated into established metallurgical operations—saving years in development time and billions in CAPEX. Their commitment to innovation and efficiency has helped us refine our near-zero-solid-waste processing approach, potentially redefining how critical minerals are sourced.”
PAMCO’s senior executive officer in charge of the project, Mr. Chitaru Okamura, commented: “We are very pleased that the smelting trial was successful following the calcination trials. These two trials are the main processes in nodule smelting, and we have made great progress in clearing the technical challenges toward commercial production. Through the trial, together with the support from TMC, we have demonstrated our facilities can be applied to nodule smelting and our smelting technology and operational know-how we have cultivated can be fully utilized for commercial nodule operation. Moving forward, we will gear up to finalize the project feasibility.”
He added: “PAMCO will continue to promote this project, which aligns with the company philosophy to ‘Leverage the power of people to deliver the Earth’s resources in more useful forms and contribute to the happiness of humankind.’”
The process data and operational experience gathered during the commercial-scale processing trial will inform expected definitive processing agreements between the parties. In November 2023, TMC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PAMCO to complete a feasibility study to process 1.3 million tonnes of wet polymetallic nodules (PMN) per year into high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and manganese silicate, which are feedstock for the production of energy infrastructure and steel.
About The Metals Company
The Metals Company is an explorer of lower-impact battery metals from seafloor polymetallic nodules, on a dual mission: (1) supply metals for the global energy transition with the least possible negative impacts on planet and people and (2) trace, recover and recycle the metals we supply to help create a metal commons that can be used in perpetuity. The Company through its subsidiaries holds exploration and commercial rights to three polymetallic nodule contract areas in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean regulated by the International Seabed Authority and sponsored by the governments of Nauru, Kiribati and the Kingdom of Tonga. More information is available at www.metals.co.
About Pacific Metals (PAMCO)
Since its establishment in 1949, Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (PAMCO) has performed through Japan’s post-war reconstruction and many crises to develop new technologies, launch new products, and implement an effective quality control program with a view to satisfying the needs of the customer and becomes Japanese leading ferronickel producer. With ferronickel as its main product, PAMCO produces nickel slag products obtained as by-products in the smelting process.
More Info
Media | media@metals.co
Investors | investors@metals.co
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, including related to statements regarding the studies to evaluate the processing of polymetallic nodules, the pilot demonstration on a 2,000-tonne nodule sample at PAMCO’s Rotary Kiln Electric-Arc Furnace (RKEF) facility in Hachinohe, Japan, the successful production of high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and manganese silicate, the operational data collected during the 14-day continuous smelting campaign, and any engineering of additional equipment needed for converting nickel-copper-cobalt alloy into an upgraded matte product, as well as the anticipated definitive processing agreements and submission of the exploitation application for commercial production. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside TMC’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: TMC’s strategies and future financial performance; the ISA’s ability to timely adopt the final mining regulations and/or willingness to review and/or approve a plan of work for exploitation under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS); TMC’s ability to obtain exploitation contracts or approved plans of work for exploitation for its areas in the Clarion Clipperton Zone; regulatory uncertainties and the impact of government regulation and political instability on TMC’s resource activities; changes to any of the laws, rules, regulations or policies to which TMC is subject, including the terms of the final mining regulations, if any, adopted by ISA and the potential timing thereof; the impact of extensive and costly environmental requirements on TMC’s operations; environmental liabilities; the impact of polymetallic nodule collection on biodiversity in the Clarion Clipperton Zone and recovery rates of impacted ecosystems; TMC’s ability to develop minerals in sufficient grade or quantities to justify commercial operations; the lack of development of seafloor polymetallic nodule deposit; TMC’s ability to successfully enter into binding agreements with Allseas Group S.A. and other parties in which it is in discussions, if any; uncertainty in the estimates for mineral resource calculations from certain contract areas and for the grade and quality of polymetallic nodule deposits; risks associated with natural hazards; uncertainty with respect to the specialized treatment and processing of polymetallic nodules that the Company may recover; risks associated with collective, development and processing operations, including with respect to the development of onshore processing capabilities and capacity and Allseas Group S.A.’s expected development efforts with respect to the Project Zero offshore system; TMC’s dependence on Allseas Group S.A.; fluctuations in transportation costs; fluctuations in metals prices; testing and manufacturing of equipment; risks associated with TMC’s limited operating history, limited cash resources and need for additional financing; risks associated with TMC’s intellectual property; Low Carbon Royalties’ limited operating history; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under Item 1A “Risk Factors” in TMC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed by TMC with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 27, 2023, as updated and/or supplemented by TMC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2023, and in TMC’s other future filings with the SEC, including TMC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023. TMC cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. TMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. TMC does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based except as required by law.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffd9ea4e-820f-4ccf-a202-075453b386ef
FAQ
What milestone did TMC achieve in its February 2025 nodule processing trial?
How many tonnes of nodules can PAMCO process annually under the TMC agreement?
What is the significance of TMC using PAMCO's existing facility?
How long did TMC's commercial-scale smelting campaign at PAMCO last?
What type of furnace did PAMCO use for TMC's nodule processing trial?
