The Darren Gordon-led developer commissioned London-based ESG firm Skarn Associates to update its previous emissions assessment work for its Jaguar nickel sulphide project in Brazil’s Carajas Mineral Province, and the results showcase a “class-leading” carbon footprint.
Centaurus said the project’s estimated E1 emissions — which relate to scope one and two, freight, and downstream greenhouse gases — had been estimated at 7.27t of CO2 per tonne of nickel equivalent for the proposed production and external downstream processing of a nickel concentrate plant.
For reference, the nickel industry average for E1 emissions currently sits at 48.6t of CO2 per tonne of nickel equivalent.
Centaurus said once online, Jaguar’s life-of-mine CO2 footprint would be lower than 94% of global nickel production.
The ESG assessment is part of Centaurus’ push to attract strategic investors and potential offtake partners even as the nickel industry faces what seems to be a structural reset.
Jaguar’s comparatively soft environmental impact is partly driven by its ability to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources thanks to Brazil’s 230kV national power grid.
The project’s power will come primarily from hydro and solar, according to managing director Gordon. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that renewable power typically comes cheap; Centaurus predicts power costs for the project of just US3c/kWh.
Centaurus made the call at the start of March to redesign Jaguar into a nickel sulphide concentrate project as prices of the commodity continued to plummet. Before this, the company was eyeing a downstream nickel sulphate refinery.
While the company has verified the ESG credentials of the new development plan, a feasibility study for the concentrate project is slated for delivery in June.
Centaurus has indicated potential plant capacity of around four million tonnes per annum.
The Jaguar project hosts a resource of 109 million tonnes at 0.87% nickel.
Centaurus maintains that should nickel market conditions improve, the potential refinery development plan could still be on the cards.
The company started the year with around A$34.7 million cash.
