Eddy Haegel

Does BHP Billiton really want to expand its loss-making Nickel West division, or is it engaging in a strange game of promoting an expansion plan of the Western Australian business in order to restart the sales process that collapsed last year?

This week’s announcement that First Quantum Minerals plans to close its Ravensthorpe nickel mine, at a cost of 450 jobs, has overshadowed several positive developments in the nickel sector.

The revival of BHP’s Nickel West business has taken another step forward with the environmental watchdog recommending approval of a satellite mine at its Mt Keith operation.

There’s cause for optimism about the potential to manufacture battery components in Western Australia in the long term, according to BHP Nickel West asset president Eddy Haegel.

Eddy Haegel has made a career breathing new life into struggling assets at BHP, including the revival of the mining giant’s nickel business; sharing his story at a Business News breakfast today, he was also bullish about the potential to develop more downstream processing of battery minerals in WA.

Magnis Energy Technologies has unveiled the feasibility study for Australia's first battery manufacturing plant near Townsville, which could put a dent in Western Australia’s ambition to establish the country’s primary battery minerals processing and manufacturing hub.

OPINION: Nickel West’s turnaround story is one of corporate vision, teamwork, loyalty and a strategy to revive a business slated to perish.

BHP Nickel West has invested in a new growth opportunity by acquiring the Honeymoon Well development project from Russia’s Norilsk Nickel, which is exiting Australia.

Demand for electric vehicles has given BHP’s nickel business a new lease of life.

Mining giant BHP has signed an agreement with the operator of Western Australia’s largest solar farm to supply half of the electricity needs at its Kwinana nickel refinery.

BHP has appointed a mining executive who has spent most of her career at Rio Tinto as the new asset president for its Nickel West business.

TransAlta will build a $73 million solar and battery project in the Northern Goldfields to power BHP Nickel West, helping the miner cut carbon for battery products.

Electric vehicles will account for a quarter of all light-duty vehicle sales by 2030, underpinning strong growth in demand for nickel, BHP has predicted.

The mining industry is turning green, but ‘old’ sectors like gold and iron ore are still attracting keen support.