Sustainability
Setting new standards for environmentally responsible nickel production.
Built for the clean energy transition
Environmental, Social, and Governance principles are at the core of our operations. Sary Arka Mining Company is developing a nickel platform that aligns with global climate and sustainability frameworks while enabling competitive industrial performance.
Environmental
- Zero direct CO₂ emissions from ambient-temperature, atmospheric-pressure process operation.
- Water and reagents re-used multiple times.
- Substantially lower energy consumption vs HPAL and smelting.
- Minimal solid waste generation.
- Capability to process legacy stockpiles and historic tailings, reducing historical environmental liabilities.
Social
- Safer open-pit operations with a lower risk profile.
- Creation of skilled modular jobs in local communities.
- Regional economic value from previously unviable lower-grade deposits.
- Technology transfer and workforce development.
- Community engagement and stakeholder transparency.
Governance
- Alignment with international ESG frameworks.
- Compliance with EU Battery Regulation direction.
- Transparent reporting and stakeholder accountability.
- Rigorous environmental monitoring and management.
- Ethical sourcing and supply chain practices.
Process-level zero direct CO₂ emissions
Unlike conventional HPAL processes that require high-pressure autoclaves operating at 250 °C and consuming massive amounts of steam and fuel, our ambient-temperature process eliminates direct CO₂ emissions at the process level.
By operating at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, we avoid energy-intensive heating systems and steam generation. Remaining emissions are limited to supporting activities such as shallow open-pit mining and logistics and can be minimized through electrification and renewable power.
This breakthrough makes our nickel “green” at the process level — essential for electric vehicle batteries that promise to reduce transportation emissions.
Closed-loop hydrometallurgical circuits
Our process features multiple re-use cycles of both reagents and water, significantly minimizing fresh water consumption and reducing environmental impact.
Unlike traditional acid leaching that generates hazardous tailings, our ion-exchange system recovers and reuses reagents multiple times, with minimal make-up requirements.
This approach substantially reduces tailings generation, protects local water resources and ecosystems, and maintains high operational efficiency.
First industrial green nickel module
The Bugetkol Project will be the world’s first industrial-scale demonstration of truly green nickel production for Class 1 battery-grade supply.
This flagship facility will prove that sustainable nickel extraction is not just theoretically possible, but commercially viable at scale. By validating a zero-direct-emissions process with competitive economics, Bugetkol will establish a new benchmark for the global nickel industry.
As battery manufacturers and automotive companies face increasing pressure to source responsibly-produced materials, Bugetkol-produced nickel will meet the highest environmental standards while supporting the clean energy transition.
Aligned with ESG and regulatory frameworks
Our technology and operations are designed to meet and exceed leading sustainability standards:
- EU Battery Regulation – carbon footprint declarations, responsible sourcing, and circular economy principles.
- U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – clean energy supply chain requirements for domestic battery manufacturing and EV production.
- International ESG frameworks – including GRI, SASB, and TCFD.
- Responsible mining – environmental impact assessments, biodiversity protection, and progressive rehabilitation of mining areas.
- Supply chain transparency – full traceability of nickel production from mine to market.