Refined nickel metal (Class 1); Primary production (pyro- and/or hydrometallurgy) to refinery gate; Production mix, CN

Dataset description

Upstream primary nickel supply chain aggregated to refined/electrolytic (Class 1) nickel at refinery gate, consistent with literature covering mine-to-refinery-gate nickel production routes and China-focused mainstream electrolytic nickel chains. Includes mining/beneficiation and downstream pyro- and/or hydrometallurgical processing and refining; co-product handling/allocation is route-dependent and not further specified in the flow context.

Technology description

Produce refined nickel metal via mainstream primary nickel production (pyro- and/or hydrometallurgical routes from mined ore to electrolytic/Class 1 nickel at refinery gate), then manufacture semi-finished flat products (plate, sheet, strip, foil) by remelting/casting (as needed) and hot/cold rolling with finishing steps at the manufacturing plant (production mix).; Upstream primary nickel supply chain aggregated to refined/electrolytic (Class 1) nickel at refinery gate, consistent with literature covering mine-to-refinery-gate nickel production routes and China-focused mainstream electrolytic nickel chains. Includes mining/beneficiation and downstream pyro- and/or hydrometallurgical processing and refining; co-product handling/allocation is route-dependent and not further specified in the flow context.; Primary upstream system modeled per a global/China-focused electrolytic nickel production chain ending at refinery gate; downstream forming/rolling is a separate manufacturing stage implied by the semi-finished product classification and 'Finished product, manufactured'.; A plant-level production mix may include multiple primary nickel routes feeding the same forming line (consistent with 'Production mix, at plant').; No alloying is assumed because the flow is 'of nickel' (not explicitly nickel alloy).

Geographic context

Location set to CN to reflect China-focused mainstream electrolytic nickel chain evidence (10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114949) while also allowing route mixing supported by global nickel LCA literature (10.1007/s11367-016-1085-x). If non-China background datasets are used for electricity/fuels/reagents, keep foreground location CN and document substitutions in the LCI.

Record

Classification

ILCD · C · Manufacturing; ILCD · 24 · Manufacture of basic metals; ILCD · 242 · Manufacture of basic precious and other non-ferrous metals; ILCD · 2420 · Manufacture of basic precious and other non-ferrous metals