Industries

In the late 1990s, QMAG was the first magnesia producer to supply the global hydrometallurgy or ‘hydromet’ market with high-grade caustic calcined magnesia (HGCCM). The product was used in a patented process to precipitate nickel from high-pressure, acid-leached nickel laterite ores. About a decade later, our EMAG45 was the first magnesia product to precipitate cobalt from acid-leached copper/cobalt ores.

The same process is now used to recover rare earths, uranium and zinc. With the growing demand for chemical forms of nickel and cobalt, primarily for rechargeable batteries, production of nickel and cobalt intermediate products is growing too. In many cases, these are actually the preferred form of nickel and cobalt rather than metal, concentrates, or mixed alloys. QMAG supplies its highest reactive caustic calcined magnesia (EMAG45) to the nickel and cobalt hydromet markets. These significant markets for QMAG are growing considerably as the world moves to net zero emissions with electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery storage.

The agricultural sector is one of QMAG’s key customers. We sell caustic calcined magnesia (CCM) to agricultural manufacturers to incorporate in fertilizers. These help to replenish soil with the element of magnesium (from magnesium oxide), which is essential for plant photosynthesis, crop growth and yield. CCM is also used to supplement the nutritional content of animal feed for dairy cows, cattle, sheep and poultry. As a 100% BioGro certified producer, our CCM can be used in the organic farming and produce supply chain in New Zealand.