Facility

Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation (THPAL)

Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation (THPAL) is SMM's second Philippine HPAL plant, located in Claver, Surigao del Norte, adjacent to the Taganito nickel laterite mine. Shareholders: SMM (62.5%), Nickel Asia (22.5%), and Pacific Metals Co. (PAMCO, 15%). THPAL produces mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide (MSS) from Taganito laterite ore via HPAL, which is then refined at SMM Niihama into nickel sulfate. Began commercial operation in 2013. THPAL capacity: ~50,000 tonnes Ni (in MHP/MSS) per year. Together with Coral Bay, THPAL makes SMM the operator of the two largest HPAL facilities in the Philippines and gives SMM a non-Chinese, non-Russian laterite-to-sulfate pathway. Source: SMM Annual Report 2024; Nickel Asia Corporation; NS Energy Business.