Brazilian Nickel Limited (BRN), still private but making moves in Brazil’s nickel and cobalt space, just announced a non-binding supply agreement with Westwin Elements. The deal would see BRN supplying up to 10,000 tonnes per year of nickel MHP and 240–400 tonnes of cobalt MHP from its Piauí Nickel Project. The feedstock comes from BRN’s laterite heap leach process, which the company says is both low-cost and low-CO2. Westwin would then refine it into Class 1 nickel powder and briquettes for the U.S., part of a bigger push to build a domestic, cost-effective critical minerals supply chain.
CEO Highlights Strategic Significance
CEO Mark Travers framed the deal as more than just a funding boost:
“This confirms our ability to deliver high-quality nickel and reinforces our role in global critical minerals. Supply chain resilience and long-term customer relationships are central to our strategy.”
The message is clear: BRN wants to position itself as a reliable, long-term supplier in the increasingly strategic nickel and cobalt market.
Westwin’s Angle: Building U.S. Supply Chain Resilience
Westwin’s CEO, KaLeigh Long, emphasized the importance of secure feedstock for rebuilding U.S. refining capacity:
“This deal moves us closer to producing Class 1 materials domestically and strengthening supply chains for advanced manufacturing and defense.”
For investors, this aligns BRN with the growing U.S. push for domestic critical mineral supply chains, which could translate into policy tailwinds or long-term contracts.
BRN’s Broader Strategy: Europe and Sustainability
This isn’t BRN’s first offtake push. Last year, it signed preliminary deals with European players EMME and Königswarter & Ebell (via Pure Battery Technologies), signaling an ambition to feed a cleaner, low-CO2 European battery supply chain.
Taken together, these deals hint at a company positioning itself as a critical, cost-competitive link between nickel/cobalt production and global battery markets — potentially an interesting story for investors watching EV supply chains and critical minerals.
