Nova Nickel Operation
NOVA NICKEL OPERATION
OWNERSHIP
IGO 100%
LOCATION
The Nova Operation is located in the Fraser Range, approximately 160km east-northeast of Norseman, 360km southeast of Kalgoorlie and 380km from the Port of Esperance in Western Australia.
The Ngadju People are the Traditional Owners of the land.
Background
The Nova deposit was discovered in July 2012, with development of the current operation commencing in January 2015. Following a successful construction and commissioning phase, the operation commenced commercial production in July 2017, and reached its nameplate production rate in the December 2017 quarter. Nova is expected to reach its end of life by late 2026.
Life of mine and divestment of assets
In March 2025, IGO announced that Nova was expected to reach the end of its mine life in late 2026. In July 2026, IGO announced it had entered into a binding agreement to divest the Nova Nickel Operation assets to Global Lithium Resources Limited (ASX: GL1), with completion targeted for 30 November 2026 following the conclusion of mining and processing activities. Under the proposed transaction, Global Lithium will acquire the Nova processing plant and associated infrastructure and intends to repurpose these assets to support its Manna Lithium Project.
This outcome means Nova is not expected to undergo a traditional closure process under IGO ownership. Instead, the operation's infrastructure is expected to continue supporting future critical minerals development in Western Australia, creating the potential for ongoing employment, economic activity and regional benefits.
Throughout the remainder of Nova's operating life and the proposed transition period, IGO will continue to engage openly with employees, First Nations peoples, local communities, regulators and other stakeholders. Our focus remains on operating safely, meeting our commitments, and ensuring Nova's legacy reflects the value created over more than a decade of successful operations.
MAKING A 
