Why do laterite nickel smelters require high temperatures?

Laterite nickel smelters require high temperatures—typically ranging from 1,360 °C to 1,610 °C (2,480 °F to 2,930 °F)—primarily due to the high magnesia content found in most laterite ores and the specific liquidus temperature of the furnace products.1

Unlike sulfide ores, which generate heat through the reaction of oxygen with iron and sulfur, laterite ores are oxides and do not produce significant reaction heat during smelting. Consequently, these smelters must rely on external energy sources to reach the necessary temperatures to effectively melt and separate the metallic elements from the waste rock. Because these high operating temperatures are essential for the process, modern smelters must incorporate extensive cooling block systems within the furnace's refractory lining to maintain structural integrity.12