The production of nickel cathodes at the Sandouville nickel refinery has ceased. The last nickel matte delivery was received in early January 2025 with the remaining inventory processed in Q1 2025. The site was placed on care and maintenance as of 30 June 2025.
A consultation process regarding the future of the Sandouville refinery has been initiated with employee representatives, in accordance with applicable French labour law requirements. The Company is also actively working with the French government to find the best possible solution that is in the interest of all stakeholders. No final decisions have been taken and the consultation process will inform the assessment of available options.
Sibanye-Stillwater’s GalliCam project aims to produce precursor Cathode Active Material (pCAM), to advance the European and French EV battery industry by repurposing Sibanye-Stillwater’s Sandouville nickel refinery from its previous product mix of nickel (Ni) metals and salts into one of Europe’s first pCAM producers.
The process, a proprietary intellectual property of Sibanye-Stillwater, uses a chloride medium that has a number of potential advantages compared to the conventional pCAM manufacturing process. The process is expected to reduce energy consumption and yield a lower carbon footprint, decrease the use of external reagents and therefore reduce costs. Additionally, effluent waste will be lower. By re-using part of the current infrastructure of the Sandouville refinery, both the capital expenditure and lead times should be reduced compared to a greenfield project. The possibility of using recycled battery material as feed is included in the study.
The purpose of the GalliCam project is to advance Sibanye-Stillwater’s strategy into the battery space in the European market. It will contribute to the objective of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, of having 40% refining capacity and 15% recycling of internal demand on European soil. Sibanye-Stillwater is aiming to become a key player in serving Europe’s battery chemicals needs – in addition to the GalliCam project, Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber lithium project in Finland is expected to be the first European integrated producer of lithium-hydroxide, also a component of CAM.
The European Commission has recognised the strategic significance of the GalliCam project by granting it Strategic Project status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act. The project has also been selected for a grant by the EU Innovation Fund, and the agreement was signed on 26 February 2025.
References
