6th International Nickel Conference

5:00PM Optional fieldtrip to Vale Totten Mine in Sudbury (subject to limited availability)

In this two day field trip we will head out to Vale's Totten Mine - the first new Vale mine in the Sudbury Basin in over 40 years. Guests will travel thousands of feet below the earth's surface to enjoy a full underground experience.

For more information please click on the following link: Field trip

8:00AM Registration Opens

9:00AM Chairperson opening remarks

9:05AM Welcome address from Vale

9:15AM Industry trends: Is nickel back on track?

• Bullish vs bearish sentiment: What is the realistic outlook for 2018?
• Has the long expected deficit finally materialised?
• What do current prices mean for producers' margins?
• Short term and long term vision: How will the EV boom affect the nickel market?

10:45AM Networking refreshment break

11:15AM The state of the nickel market: An overview of global supply and demand

• Global nickel output 2017: A breakdown by nickel grade and regional markets
• What kind of nickel products are experiencing tightness in supply? What is driving their demand?
• What regional markets and end-user industries are most likely to fuel demand in 2018?
• Overview of production processes: Exploring varying technologies and their cost-efficiency

11:45AM Pricing trends: What can we expect for 2018 onwards?

• Does the current economic climate support overall growth for base metals?
• What were the determinant factors in shaping 2017 nickel prices?
• Is significant price volatility to be expected this year?
• Will this year's market see an increase in cancelled warrants? What prices will incentivise this?
• How is the predicted split in price between class 1 and class 2 nickel likely to develop?

12:30PM Networking lunch

1:45PM The EV revolution: What is the global pace and scale of market expansion?

• Looking at the time frame for market implementation: Will current predictions be met?
• Which countries are leading the way in EV market share? What policies are working?
• How will EV production in China evolve in the near future?
• What are the major challenges for substantial EV growth to take root? How are they being addressed?

2:45PM The future of nickel: Nickel sulphate production and growth predictions

• What are the current figures on nickel sulphate production and demand?
• How will demand for nickel sulphate evolve in the next coming years?
• Which feedstocks and production processes available are the most cost-effective for nickel sulphate production?
• What kind of contracts are now being established between producers and battery manufacturers?
• How will the new nickel sulphate supply chain look like?

3:15PM Networking refreshment break

3:45PM Supplying the EV battery market: Will nickel supply meet growing demand?

• How is the future demand for class 1 nickel affecting producers' growth strategies and capex?
• Will producers be able to meet growing demand for battery-grade nickel, given current underinvestment on the supply side?
• Are current prices high enough to incentivise new projects?
• How will the expected price split between class 1 and class 2 nickel affect the market?

4:15PM Supplying the EV battery market: Will cobalt supply meet growing demand?

• How will cobalt supply meet growing demand?
• What are the main challenges currently faced by the cobalt supply chain?
• Is cobalt considered an attractive investment opportunity?
• An overview of current global production and upcoming projects
• How can nickel projects optimise cobalt production?

4:45PM End of day one and networking reception

8:00AM Registration opens

8:30AM Li-ion batteries and alternatives: What progress has been made in R&D?

• What is the current pace of R&D on EV batteries? What are the most important factors that are currently shaping the EV battery race?
• Nickel's reputation in the EV boom: How firmly established is nickel as a cathode battery material?
• What are the major threats to nickel-rich batteries? What are the emerging alternatives?
• Will the use of cobalt in EV batteries ultimately decline? How will it be replaced?

9:30AM Recycled EV batteries: What are the implications for primary nickel?

• What are the latest developments in recycling EV batteries?
• Are recycled EV batteries expected to become an important source of nickel units?
• How will battery recycling affect demand for primary nickel?
• What are the greatest opportunities and challenges currently faced by EV battery recyclers?

10:00AM The stainless steel scrap market: An overview of availability and consumption

• What was the availability of scrap in 2017? What can we expect in 2018?
• How does the consumption of stainless steel scrap compare to demand for raw materials?
• Where will future supply of scrap come from? When can we expect scrap supply from China to materialise?

10:30AM Networking refreshment break

11:00AM Stainless steel perspective: Assessing global production and demand in 2018

• Will 2018 see a global growth in demand? What regions and end-user industries will fuel this growth?
• What production volumes and prices can be expected for the coming year?
• How does the current volatility in nickel prices affect stainless steel producers? A closer look at alloy surcharge variations
• Where are global policy trends headed, in terms of protectionist measures?

11:45AM Regional focus: An overview of the nickel market in China

• The state of the Chinese NPI market: Production, imports and consumption
• How will recent changes in China's import taxes for refined nickel and nickel sulphate affect its supply chain?
• Is demand for higher grade nickel in China on the increase? Where will the Chinese market supply it from?

12:15PM Regional focus: NPI and stainless steel production in Indonesia

• What has been the effect of the relaxation on Indonesia's export ban since early 2017?
• How will the renewed ramp-up of NPI production in Indonesia affect nickel prices?
• How is Indonesia's domestic consumption of NPI going to affect the Chinese nickel supply-chain?
• Indonesian stainless steel exports: What quantities are being exported and to where?
• What impact will Indonesian stainless steel production have on stainless steel prices and demand for nickel?
• Can Indonesia enter the market for battery raw materials? How quickly and at what cost?

12:45PM Regional focus: Update on the Philippines' mining regulations

• What is the current status on government mine closures? How has this affected production?
• Overview of nickel ore exports in 2017, going forward to 2018
• How are recent changes in supply and demand dynamics in Indonesia affecting the Philippines?

1:15PM Close of conference and networking lunch