Thakadu launches IXS-PurePlus Nickel Sulphate
Thakadu Battery Materials has launched IXS-PurePlus, a new ultra-pure nickel sulphate product developed for customers who require cleaner chemistry, tighter impurity control and improved performance in use.
The product follows the successful commissioning of a new solvent extraction circuit, integrated into Thakadu’s existing nickel refinery. The upgrade creates Thakadu’s enhanced IXS process flow, delivering nickel sulphate with ultra-low magnesium and best in class purity.
IXS-PurePlus has been designed for customers making batteries for electric vehicles, battery energy storage systems and advanced industrial technology applications, where reliability, sustainability and precision are critical. For customers, IXS-PurePlus offers a stronger technical proposition and better value in downstream processing. For partners, suppliers and investors, it demonstrates Thakadu’s ability to improve product quality, increase value from existing feed streams and build globally relevant critical-metals processing infrastructure in Africa.
Thakadu operates Africa’s only battery-grade nickel sulphate refinery. Located within Sibanye-Stillwater’s base metal refinery in South Africa, the plant beneficiates crude nickel sulphate feed from Sibanye-Stillwater’s base metal refinery into higher-value nickel sulphate products for export.
“This is a story about innovation and tenacity,” said Ruli Diseko, CEO of Thakadu Battery Materials. “Together with Sibanye-Stillwater, we are showing how Africa can add value to critical metals at source. IXS-PurePlus is a proud milestone for our team and an exciting product for our customers.”
Since entering commercial production in 2021, the Thakadu Refinery has shipped more than 50,000 tonnes of nickel sulphate, together with significant cobalt volumes, to customers across Asia, Europe, the United States and South America.
“This is an important example of the role beneficiation can play in unlocking greater value from South Africa’s rich mineral endowment. Thakadu’s operation converts nickel-bearing feed into a premium, battery-grade product that is supplied to global markets. We are very pleased that our partnership with Thakadu creates greater value from our resources while supporting the development of resilient and diversified supply chains for the energy transition,” said Richard Stewart, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater.
The launch comes as global customers place greater emphasis on secure, diversified and responsibly produced critical-minerals supply chains. Nickel markets are becoming more sensitive to supply concentration, changing Indonesian ore policy, reagent availability and processing capacity. In this environment, reliable production of ultra-pure nickel sulphate is increasingly strategic for customers seeking cleaner chemistry, responsible production and greater security of supply.
The successful commissioning of the solvent extraction circuit and the launch of IXS-PurePlus reflect Thakadu’s proven technical capability, disciplined execution and strong partnerships.
