Nickel mattes, nickel oxide sinters and other intermediate products of nickel metallurgy

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR covers the gate-to-gate production of nickel mattes, nickel oxide sinters, and other nickel-bearing metallurgical intermediates whose intended next use is further nickel or co-metal recovery or refining. Covered routes include sulphidic-concentrate smelting, oxidic laterite preparation and smelting with sulphur addition, roasting or sintering to an oxide intermediate, and hydrometallurgical precipitation of an intermediate. A foreground data package shall select one actual product and route; it shall not average unlike product states without separately reported production and composition data.

The foreground boundary begins when nickel-bearing ore, concentrate, or a specifically identified secondary feed crosses the production-site gate. It includes on-site preparation, drying, calcining, roasting, smelting, converting, slag cleaning, leaching or precipitation when used to make the declared intermediate, product granulation or dewatering, on-site off-gas and wastewater treatment, and management of captured dust and slag up to the site gate. Upstream mining, concentration, purchased energy and reagent production, capital goods, transport before the site gate, and downstream refining to unwrought nickel or chemicals are represented by upstream datasets and are not part of the foreground process.

The category excludes nickel ores and concentrates sold without metallurgical conversion; ferro-nickel and nickel pig iron; unwrought refined nickel; finished nickel alloys; and nickel chemicals sold as final chemical products rather than as declared metallurgical intermediates. Packaging is included only when it crosses the declared product gate and shall then be added as separate atomic material rows.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-metals.nickel-mattes-nickel-oxide-sinters-and-other-intermediate-products-of-nickel-metallurgy
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 41421 (exact classification context); HS 7501 terminology corroboration
covered_products	Low- or high-grade nickel matte; nickel oxide sinter; hydrometallurgical nickel intermediate; another nickel-bearing intermediate demonstrably sold for further nickel metallurgy
excluded_products	Nickel ore or concentrate; ferro-nickel; nickel pig iron; unwrought refined nickel; finished nickel alloy; final-market nickel sulfate, nickel carbonate, or other nickel chemical
representative_product	A declared nickel metallurgy intermediate at the production-site gate
production_route	Declared sulphidic pyrometallurgical, laterite pyrometallurgical, oxide roasting/sintering, hydrometallurgical precipitation, or specifically documented combined route
market_state	As-shipped solid, granulate, sinter, filter cake, or slurry; moisture, dry solids, nickel content, sulfur content, and co-metal content declared as applicable

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Nickel-bearing metallurgical intermediate supplied for further nickel or co-metal recovery or refining
How much	1,000 kg of declared product as shipped at the production-site gate
How well	Product form, dry-solids fraction, nickel content, sulfur content, major co-metals, and key impurity specification are measured for the represented lot or campaign
How long or cycle	One declared production campaign or reporting period, with lot-weighted output normalized to 1,000 kg
reference_flow_link	out_reference_product

Field	Value
Reference amount	1,000 kg
Reference product flow	Nickel metallurgy intermediate product (UUID unresolved)
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	Product name and form; route; ore/feed class; as-shipped mass; dry-solids fraction or moisture; nickel content; sulfur content; cobalt and copper content when material; impurity specification; site and geography; reporting period; recovered-acid treatment; slag and dust recycle status

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_mass	Reference product and mass-based exchanges	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Normalize all inventory to 1,000 kg of product as shipped; retain unrounded measured mass before normalization.
dry_mass_disclosure	Product and nickel-bearing feed	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Report as-shipped mass and measured moisture or dry-solids fraction; calculate dry mass without silently changing the reference flow to dry product.
contained_nickel	Product, feed, slag, and dust	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg Ni	Calculate contained nickel from the measured material mass and representative nickel assay; state whether the assay is wet- or dry-basis.
gas_volume_conditions	Natural gas and industrial oxygen	Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66	m3	Record metered volume and its temperature, pressure, and dry/wet reference condition; do not combine unlike volume reference conditions.
energy_conversion	Alternating-current electricity	Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66	MJ	Preserve the metered energy record and document any kWh-to-MJ conversion using 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Nickel-bearing ore, concentrate, or specifically identified secondary feed received at the production-site gate with mass, moisture, nickel assay, and route-relevant composition recorded
starting_condition_role	Foreground input boundary for conversion to the declared nickel metallurgy intermediate
product_classification_scope	Nickel mattes, nickel oxide sinters, and other intermediate products of nickel metallurgy; excludes ores/concentrates and refined nickel products
recursive_input_rule	If an input is itself a covered nickel metallurgy intermediate, record that exact input as a separate product exchange with an upstream dataset and do not recursively include its prior production in this foreground process.
upstream_dataset_requirement	Every purchased feed, fuel, electricity, oxygen, water, and reagent crossing the site gate requires a geography-, technology-, and product-state-appropriate upstream dataset.
disclosure	Declare route, feed type, preparation state, recovered heat, oxygen plant boundary, off-gas sulfur recovery, slag cleaning and recycle, dust recycle, water recycle, wastewater treatment, direct-release compartments, and any excluded shared infrastructure.

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_route_selection	Foreground route	Include the actual preparation, thermal, hydrometallurgical, conditioning, off-gas, and water-treatment operations used to produce the declared intermediate; do not substitute an average of unmeasured routes.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
boundary_upstream_inputs	Purchased inputs	Stop the foreground boundary at the site gate and link each purchased feed, energy carrier, water, oxygen, and reagent to an upstream dataset.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
boundary_direct_releases	Air and water emissions	Include measured or calculated direct releases after on-site abatement; upstream electricity-generation emissions shall not be duplicated as foreground emissions.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
boundary_recovery_loops	Slag, dust, sulfur, and heat recovery	Model on-site returns as internal loops and report only net site-gate exchanges; disclose transfers to another site as technosphere outputs or wastes according to their actual status.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
nickel_intermediate_production	Nickel intermediate production and on-site treatment	required	Include the measured unit operations for the declared route; route-specific rows apply only when that exchange crosses the selected foreground boundary.	Foreground conversion, product conditioning, off-gas treatment, water treatment, and residue management	1,000 kg declared product as shipped

Process: Nickel intermediate production and on-site treatment (nickel_intermediate_production)

This consolidated process prevents route-by-exchange Cartesian duplication. Each card is one atomic exchange. Apply only cards whose stated route condition occurs, and add any other actual site exchange as its own atomic row before dataset publication.

Inputs

Product flows

Nickel sulphide concentrate (in_nickel_sulfide_concentrate)

Record this input only for a route receiving a concentrated sulphidic nickel feed.

• Selected flow: Nickel sulphide concentrate (UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured concentrate mass crossing the site gate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_receipts
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Nickel laterite ore (in_nickel_laterite_ore)

Record this input only for a route receiving oxidic laterite, including a declared limonite or saprolite state.

• Selected flow: Nickel laterite ore (UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured laterite mass crossing the site gate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_receipts
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Silica flux (in_silica_sand)

Record silica sand when used as flux in the declared thermal route.

• Selected flow: silica sand 854527a0-1a8f-43af-b7c5-8c20d22e61ff
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured silica sand charged
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_receipts
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Sulfur addition (in_sulfur)

Record elemental sulfur only when it is added to form a sulphide matte or for another declared metallurgical reaction.

• Selected flow: Sulfur 36a73796-51c8-44d6-9615-c4bc338274ec
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured elemental sulfur charged
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_receipts
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Metallurgical coke (in_metallurgical_coke)

Record metallurgical coke only when used as reductant or furnace fuel.

• Selected flow: metallurgical coke a94c42b1-7fa9-42f3-a9d1-1e7353e8490d
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured metallurgical coke charged
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_receipts
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Gaseous natural gas (in_natural_gas)

Record purchased gaseous natural gas combusted in dryers, kilns, furnaces, or auxiliary units.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Net metered natural-gas volume at declared reference conditions
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_and_gas
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Alternating-current electricity (in_electricity)

Record net imported alternating-current electricity for process and auxiliary equipment.

• Selected flow: alternating current 3d76981f-964a-4865-b588-0e067a2a1163
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: Net metered imported electricity after deducting separately metered site-gate exports
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_and_gas
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Industrial oxygen (in_industrial_oxygen)

Record purchased or over-the-fence industrial oxygen; exclude on-site oxygen-production electricity only when that production is represented by a separate upstream dataset.

• Selected flow: Industrial oxygen bd4b0f96-2090-4806-a648-335ab20ff401
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Net metered oxygen volume at declared reference conditions
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_and_gas
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Process water (in_process_water)

Record net make-up process water after measured internal water recycle.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured process-water input crossing the site gate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_records
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Sulfuric acid input (in_sulfuric_acid)

Record sulfuric acid only when purchased or transferred into a hydrometallurgical route; do not net it against recovered sulfuric acid output.

• Selected flow: Sulfuric acid 7ee2e3c3-bee7-4520-92b7-3e23afbfcd6f
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured sulfuric-acid solution mass, with concentration declared
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_reagent_records
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Aqueous ammonia (in_aqueous_ammonia)

Record aqueous ammonia only for an ammonia-leach or precipitation route.

• Selected flow: Aqueous ammonia 058124f8-5e84-4070-b6c0-4bacac3a0024
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured aqueous-ammonia solution mass, with concentration declared
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_reagent_records
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Hydrogen sulfide reagent (in_hydrogen_sulfide)

Record hydrogen sulfide only when supplied as the precipitation reagent for a nickel-cobalt sulphide intermediate.

• Selected flow: Hydrogen sulfide (UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured hydrogen-sulfide mass, excluding carrier gas mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_reagent_records
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Sodium hydroxide (in_sodium_hydroxide)

Record sodium hydroxide only when used for pH control, precipitation, scrubbing, or water treatment within the foreground boundary.

• Selected flow: Sodium hydroxide e0abcced-0611-4c24-9290-5a2c5a0c4169
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured sodium-hydroxide solution or solid mass, with concentration and physical state declared
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_reagent_records
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Waste flows

No waste input is generically required. A site that receives a specific nickel-bearing waste shall add that exact atomic waste flow with measured mass, composition, treatment role, and upstream status.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is generically required. Resource extractions belong in upstream datasets for purchased materials and energy.

Outputs

Product flows

Declared nickel metallurgy intermediate (out_reference_product)

This is the category-wide reference product; its exact product name and state shall be declared because no single public UUID covers every included intermediate.

• Selected flow: Nickel metallurgy intermediate product (UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: 1,000 kg after normalizing measured dispatch mass for the declared reporting period
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_dispatch
• Sources: un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025, china-mof-tariff-2013, eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Recovered sulfuric acid (out_sulfuric_acid)

Record sulfuric acid exported from an on-site off-gas acid plant as a co-product; do not record internally consumed acid as a gross output.

• Selected flow: Sulfuric acid 7ee2e3c3-bee7-4520-92b7-3e23afbfcd6f
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured sulfuric-acid solution mass crossing the site gate, with concentration declared
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_dispatch
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Waste flows

Nickel smelter slag (out_nickel_smelter_slag)

Record net nickel smelter slag leaving the site after internal slag cleaning and returns; disclose recovery or disposal destination and nickel assay.

• Selected flow: nickel smelter slag 4fcb4fe9-a429-4de3-aaf0-a0ed897fd4ce
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured slag mass crossing the site gate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_records
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Nickel-bearing collected flue-gas dust (out_nickel_flue_gas_dust)

Record net captured nickel-bearing flue-gas dust transferred off site after subtracting measured internal recycle.

• Selected flow: Nickel-bearing flue-gas dust (UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured captured-dust mass crossing the site gate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_records
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Elementary flows

Direct fossil carbon dioxide to air (out_carbon_dioxide_fossil)

Record direct fossil carbon dioxide from on-site combustion and carbon reductant oxidation; exclude upstream electricity emissions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Stack measurement or carbon-balance calculation for direct foreground sources
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_air_emissions
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Direct sulfur dioxide to air (out_sulfur_dioxide_air)

Record atomic sulfur dioxide released to the ordinary unspecified-air compartment after capture and acid production; do not substitute a sulfur-oxides umbrella flow.

• Selected flow: Sulfur dioxide to air, unspecified (UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured stack and diffuse sulfur dioxide after on-site abatement
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_air_emissions
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Nickel to air, unspecified (out_nickel_air)

Record total measured nickel mass released to air after on-site capture, using the unspecified-air compartment only when a more specific receiving compartment is unavailable.

• Selected flow: nickel 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-96c8-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured stack plus quantified diffuse nickel emissions after abatement
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_air_emissions
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Nickel to water, unspecified (out_nickel_water)

Record total measured nickel mass in direct treated-water releases, using the unspecified-water compartment only when the receiving water is not available.

• Selected flow: nickel 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-96ce-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Discharge volume multiplied by flow-weighted nickel concentration after on-site treatment
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg declared product as shipped
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_emissions
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivision	Separately measured route units and outputs	Avoid allocation by subdividing separately metered preparation, smelting, leaching, gas-treatment, acid-production, and residue-treatment operations.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
allocation_internal_returns	On-site matte, slag, dust, water, acid, and heat returns	Treat measured on-site returns as internal loops; assign their treatment burdens to the foreground process and report only net site-gate exchanges.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
allocation_coproducts	Exported sulfuric acid or another valuable co-product	First use a documented physical causal relationship such as sulfur converted to exported acid; if no defensible causal relationship exists, use revenue-based allocation with the price period, currency, and sensitivity to zero-credit treatment disclosed.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
allocation_recovered_metals	Slag, dust, cake, or residue sent for metal recovery	Do not assign avoided primary-metal credits inside the foreground inventory unless the study applies an explicitly documented substitution model; disclose recoverable nickel and co-metal content separately.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_material_receipts	nickel_intermediate_production	Feed, flux, sulfur, and coke inputs	Weighbridge, belt scale, batch ticket, invoice, and assay	gross mass; tare; moisture; dry solids; Ni; S; Co; Cu; material state; lot id	Reconcile calibrated receipt and charge records to inventory change	kg and mass fraction	Each lot and monthly reconciliation	Same reporting period as product output	All included site units	Sum net consumed mass and normalize by dispatch output	Scale calibration, stock reconciliation, sampling plan, assay certificate
cp_energy_and_gas	nickel_intermediate_production	Natural gas, electricity, and oxygen inputs	Custody meter and submeter records	meter start/end; import; export; pressure; temperature; gas condition; oxygen purity; outage	Reconcile site-gate meters with route-unit submeters	m3 and MJ	Continuous or each billing interval	At least one representative production campaign and the reporting period	All included site units	Net imports divided by qualifying product output	Meter calibration, invoice reconciliation, missing-data log
cp_water_records	nickel_intermediate_production	Net process-water input	Intake and recycle meter records	make-up water; returned water; inventory change; source; quality	Water balance using calibrated meters	kg	Daily or continuous, monthly reconciliation	Same reporting period as product output	Foreground water system	Site-gate make-up water divided by qualifying output	Meter calibration and water-balance closure
cp_reagent_records	nickel_intermediate_production	Acid, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and sodium hydroxide inputs	Tank level, flow meter, batch ticket, invoice, concentration assay	delivered mass; opening/closing stock; concentration; purity; physical state; return	Reconcile purchases, stock change, and batch dosing	kg solution and mass fraction	Each delivery and batch, monthly reconciliation	Same reporting period as applicable route output	Reagent storage and included route units	Net pure or solution mass as explicitly labelled, normalized by output	Tank calibration, concentration certificate, dosing reconciliation
cp_product_dispatch	nickel_intermediate_production	Reference product and exported acid	Dispatch scale, tank meter, product assay, inventory	product mass; acid mass; moisture; dry solids; Ni; S; Co; Cu; acid concentration; lot	Reconcile production, inventory change, and dispatch	kg and mass fraction	Each lot or transfer	Complete reporting period	All product finishing and dispatch points	Lot-weighted mass and assays; normalize reference product to 1,000 kg	Scale calibration, assay QA/QC, inventory reconciliation
cp_waste_records	nickel_intermediate_production	Slag and captured dust outputs	Scale tickets, containers, inventory, transfer manifests, assays	mass; Ni; Co; Cu; moisture; origin; internal return; destination; waste status	Reconcile generated, internally returned, stored, and transferred quantities	kg and mass fraction	Each transfer, monthly reconciliation	Same reporting period as product output	All included collection and treatment units	Report net site-gate waste after internal returns	Manifest, scale calibration, representative assay, stock reconciliation
cp_air_emissions	nickel_intermediate_production	Direct carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nickel to air	Continuous monitor, stack test, fuel/carbon record, diffuse survey	gas flow; concentration; operating hours; fuel carbon; coke carbon; captured sulfur; detection limit	Integrate valid measurements; use documented carbon balance only for carbon dioxide gaps	kg	Continuous where available and each required test	Representative operating states across the reporting period	All included stacks and quantified diffuse sources	Sum direct releases after abatement and normalize by output	Monitor calibration, valid-data coverage, stack-test report, carbon-balance closure
cp_water_emissions	nickel_intermediate_production	Nickel to water	Discharge meter and flow-proportional sample	discharge volume; Ni concentration; detection limit; bypass; receiving water	Multiply integrated discharge by flow-weighted concentration	kg	Continuous flow and permit-consistent sampling	Same reporting period as product output	All direct foreground discharge points	Sum post-treatment direct releases and normalize by output	Laboratory accreditation, blanks, duplicates, meter calibration, permit record

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_normalize_output	Every inventory row	normalized amount = reporting-period net exchange / reporting-period qualifying product mass × 1,000 kg	Net exchange; qualifying product dispatch mass	Exchange per 1,000 kg product
calc_dry_mass	Feed, product, slag, and dust	dry mass = as-shipped mass × (1 − moisture mass fraction), or as-shipped mass × measured dry-solids fraction	As-shipped mass; representative moisture or dry-solids fraction	Dry mass with basis label
calc_contained_nickel	Nickel-bearing materials	contained Ni = material mass on the assay basis × measured nickel mass fraction	Material mass; assay basis; Ni fraction	kg Ni
calc_gas_reference	Natural gas and oxygen	Convert volume only with recorded temperature, absolute pressure, compressibility treatment, and wet/dry basis; retain original metered value.	Metered volume and reference conditions	Comparable m3 at declared conditions
calc_direct_co2	out_carbon_dioxide_fossil	Prefer measured direct CO2; otherwise apply a documented carbon balance to consumed fossil fuel and reductant carbon, subtracting measured carbon retained in products or wastes.	Fuel and coke carbon; retained carbon; measured CO2	kg direct fossil CO2	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
calc_nickel_water	out_nickel_water	nickel release = sum of discharge volume interval × flow-weighted nickel concentration interval; handle below-detection values by the declared laboratory rule.	Discharge volume; nickel concentration; detection limit	kg nickel to water	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
calc_mass_balance	Ni, S, Co, and Cu balance	Reconcile measured inputs, product, co-products, wastes, emissions, and inventory change; investigate material imbalance before publication.	Assays and masses for all relevant exchanges	Element balance and closure statement	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_identity	Reference product	Product form and intended further-metallurgy use shall demonstrate inclusion in this PCR and exclusion from ore/concentrate, ferro-nickel, and refined-nickel categories.	Product specification, contract, process description, and classification record
dq_route	Foreground process	Route, furnace or reactor type, feed state, preparation, conditioning, and abatement units shall match the reported inventory rows.	Process flow diagram and unit-operation list
dq_assay	Nickel-bearing materials	Use representative sampling and traceable Ni, S, Co, Cu, moisture, and impurity analyses on the stated wet or dry basis.	Sampling plan, laboratory method, certificates, QA/QC results
dq_temporal	All rows	Align input, output, stock-change, and emission records to the same period and disclose shutdown, start-up, bypass, and campaign changes.	Period reconciliation and operating log
dq_completeness	Site boundary	Reconcile site-gate meters, receipts, dispatch, wastes, and direct releases; explain excluded flows and missing data.	Mass, element, energy, and water balance checks
dq_background	Upstream datasets	Match geography, technology, product state, concentration, electricity voltage/grid, oxygen boundary, and gas volume conditions.	Dataset metadata and mapping note

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_identity	Product category	Reject a dataset that represents ore/concentrate, ferro-nickel, nickel pig iron, unwrought refined nickel, or a final-market nickel chemical instead of a declared metallurgy intermediate.	un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025, china-mof-tariff-2013
validate_reference	Reference flow	Require exactly 1,000 kg as-shipped reference product and all required product, composition, route, site, and period qualifiers.	un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025
validate_route_rows	Inventory	Require every applied row to match the declared route and every actual material, energy, waste, and direct-emission exchange to be represented by one atomic flow.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
validate_uuid_semantics	UUID-bearing rows	Confirm flow type, base name, property, unit group, compartment, and physical state; do not substitute a broader species group or a route-specific product for another row.
validate_internal_loops	Recycle and recovery	Reject double counting of internally returned matte, slag, dust, water, acid, or heat as both gross output and new input.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
validate_direct_emissions	Air and water outputs	Require direct foreground emissions after abatement and exclude upstream electricity and purchased-input production emissions from direct rows.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
validate_balances	Material accounting	Require disclosed Ni and S balance closure and explanations for all material discrepancies above the site-defined measurement uncertainty.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
validate_ranges	Quantity screening	Treat all inventory amounts as foreground values; no external QA range is approved until two independent, original-text-verified, boundary-compatible sources support it.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground production dataset eligible for review as a secondary_dataset or background_dataset after all unresolved identities and evidence needs are addressed
downstream_use	Product systems requiring a declared nickel matte, nickel oxide sinter, or other nickel metallurgy intermediate
allowed_use	Use for the reported product form, route, feed class, site geography, composition, technology, abatement, and reporting period, or for a justified close match with all differences disclosed
excluded_use	Do not use as a proxy for nickel ore/concentrate, ferro-nickel, nickel pig iron, refined nickel, final-market nickel chemicals, or a different intermediate route without documented representativeness
required_metadata	PCR id and version; product name and form; route; site and geography; reporting period; feed class; mass/moisture/dry solids; Ni/S/Co/Cu assays; energy and oxygen boundaries; slag/dust/water recycle; direct-release compartments; allocation method; upstream dataset identities
required_quality_disclosure	Temporal and technological representativeness; measurement and assay methods; meter and laboratory QA/QC; data completeness; mass and element balance closure; missing-data treatment; allocation sensitivity; unresolved UUID and range-evidence status
update_trigger	Change in product form, feed class, route, furnace/reactor, energy or oxygen supply boundary, sulfur capture, slag/dust recycle, wastewater treatment, allocation, or a material shift in mass or element balances

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, CPC Version 3.0 Structure, 30 June 2025, code 41421. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Official English category identity and classification scope
china-mof-tariff-2013	official_guidance	Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China, 2013 tariff schedule table, lines 75011000, 75012010, and 75012090. https://gss.mof.gov.cn/gzdt/zhengcefabu/201306/P020130708509079068339.pdf (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Professional Chinese terminology and HS 7501 boundary corroboration
eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017	official_guidance	Cusano, G. et al., Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Non-Ferrous Metals Industries, European Commission JRC, EUR 28648 EN, JRC107041, 2017, doi:10.2760/8224. https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC107041 (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Nickel route decomposition, foreground exchanges, recovery loops, direct-emission boundary, collection, and quality rules