As U.S. demand for nickel surges amid EV and battery production goals, First Atlantic Nickel’s Newfoundland discovery is emerging as a potential game-changer for domestic supply chains.
At a Glance
- First Atlantic Nickel reported 396 meters at 0.23% nickel in its RPM Zone Phase 1 drilling
- Phase 2 expansion targets multiple extensions toward regional fault zones
- The project’s awaruite ore enables smelter-free processing—critical for North American supply chains
- Global nickel supply remains dominated by China and Indonesia, sparking U.S. strategic concerns
- FAN presented its technology at GIGA USA 2025, aiming to secure deals with U.S. automakers and battery firms
Critical Nickel Shortages Undermine U.S. Goals
Nickel is a key component in lithium-ion batteries—essential for electric vehicles and energy storage. Yet global nickel markets are heavily concentrated, with China and Indonesia controlling much of the supply. The U.S. currently imports the majority of its nickel, threatening EV production targets under the Inflation Reduction Act. As highlighted by Reuters, without new domestic sources, American battery and auto industries face serious risks.
First Atlantic’s Strategic Discovery
First Atlantic Nickel’s RPM Zone Phase 1 drilling intersected 396 meters at 0.23% nickel and 0.29% chromium—offering one of the few significant new discoveries on North American soil, according to Tomorrow Investor. Phase 2 drilling is now expanding the deposit, targeting structures toward Pipestone Pond and key fault zones.
Watch a report: Nickel Shortages and U.S. Battery Security.
Awaruite: Smelter-Free Solution for Clean Supply
The project’s awaruite ore—naturally magnetic and sulfur-free—can be processed without traditional smelting. Instead, simple magnetic separation and flotation yield high-grade concentrate. This avoids the carbon footprint and geopolitical risk of relying on Asia-based smelters. As Mining.com notes, such innovations are critical to U.S. ambitions for secure, green battery inputs.
Tapping U.S. Buyers
First Atlantic Nickel presented its project at the recent GIGA USA conference in Washington, positioning itself as a reliable domestic nickel source for U.S. automakers like Tesla and Ford, as well as battery makers. With demand projected to soar and geopolitics in flux, securing North American nickel is now seen as a strategic imperative.
As Phase 2 exploration unfolds, FAN’s RPM Zone could play an outsized role in reshaping U.S. battery supply chains—and determining whether America meets its EV production targets on time.
