Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 23, Canada Nickel Company Inc. has unveiled the next phase of its collaboration with NetCarb to develop a zero-carbon industrial cluster in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Announced on Wednesday, this partnership leverages NetCarb’s advanced carbon sequestration technology to utilize tailings from the Crawford Nickel Project and other initiatives in the Timmins Nickel District, fostering sustainable by-products and carbon storage.

The collaboration focuses on transforming mining tailings into valuable resources while capturing carbon dioxide. NetCarb’s process is designed to enhance the environmental and economic value of Canada Nickel’s operations. Dr. Luke Keeney, NetCarb’s Managing Director and CEO, stated: “NetCarb’s enhanced carbon sequestration technology could significantly extend the value of Canada Nickel’s tailings, positioning the Timmins Nickel District as a leading decarbonisation hub in Eastern Canada and unlocking new industries and economic opportunities for the region.”

The joint program emphasizes three key areas: blue-green hydrogen and low-carbon fertilizers, magnesium-based products, and enhanced carbon removal using local biomass. Through laboratory, pilot, and engineering efforts, the companies aim to demonstrate the process’s viability, targeting rapid development to integrate these by-products into regional markets.

The NetCarb process enables the production of carbon-neutral hydrogen via steam methane reforming, sequestering carbon dioxide in tailings. This hybrid approach, combining elements of blue and green hydrogen, supports applications like ammonia, urea, and ammonium nitrate production. Hydrogen could serve as a zero-emission fuel, potentially supplied to nearby natural gas pipelines to reduce the carbon footprint of regional energy systems.

Ammonia, a critical component for nitrogen-based fertilizers and explosives, could also facilitate hydrogen transport as a fuel. The process allows for ammonia production using established industrial methods, enhancing local agricultural and industrial capabilities. Urea, another by-product, is a fertilizer that boosts soil nitrogen content. Currently imported in Eastern Canada, locally produced urea could enhance regional self-sufficiency.

NetCarb estimates that each tonne of Crawford tailings can store approximately 300 kg of carbon dioxide while yielding 55 kg of hydrogen, which could produce 310 kg of ammonia or 545 kg of urea. These outputs highlight the potential to create high-value products from mining by-products, supporting both economic and environmental goals.

By leveraging the Timmins Nickel District’s extensive ultramafic resources, the partnership aims to establish Northeastern Ontario as a model for sustainable industrial development. The initiative is expected to create new economic opportunities, including jobs in emerging low-carbon industries, while reducing reliance on traditional resource extraction methods.

Canada Nickel and NetCarb’s collaboration underscores a commitment to innovative resource management. As the program advances, it aims to position the region as a leader in decarbonization, delivering sustainable products and strengthening local economies through integrated, eco-friendly solutions.