The expansion at the largest nickel smelter in the European Union include a new concentrate dryer and increased capacity in the electric smelting furnace.
Cochilco said demand for lithium had been muted because of the pandemic, expected at around 75,000 tonnes, but would surge to 1.4 million tonnes by 2030.
The battery metals start-up is investing over $60 million to accelerate a program on the potential environmental impacts of collecting polymetallic nodules from the deep seabed.