New nickel institute complements older related associations

Toronto, ON – March 3, 2004 – Dr Ivor Kirman has announced the launch of the Nickel Institute. The institute, whose members represent over 70% of current world production, will generate and communicate knowledge required to support safe and sustainable production, use and reuse of nickel.

According to Dr Kirman, the new institute is committed to responding effectively to the growing requests for nickel-related information. For nickel producers and users it will offer research-based, cutting-edge science and technical information.

“Nickel is the great enabler for modern society but an integrated response is required for the technical and environmental challenges…and that’s our mission,” he adds.

The institute provides a single membership and management structure for activities previously undertaken by the Nickel Development Institute (NiDI) and the Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association (NiPERA). NiPERA is an independently incorporated division of the Nickel Institute, and will continue as a provider of peer-reviewed, published information on the human health and environmental science of nickel.

The Nickel Institute will continue the use-related technical work of NiDI, but will focus more on nickel issues related to stewardship and sustainable development, especially the generation and use of knowledge about the full life cycle impacts of nickel.

Membership of the Nickel Institute is open to all producers of nickel. Current members include Anglo Platinum, BHP Billiton, Codemin/Anglo Base Metals, Empress Nickel, Eramet, Falconbridge, Inco, Inco TNC, Nippon Yakin Kogyo, OM Group, PT International Nickel, Sherritt International, Sumitomo Metal Mining, Umicore and WMC Resources.