Patented Technology
An independent, non-HPAL route to Class 1 nickel, protected by a granted US patent and two international (PCT) applications.
Critical-minerals platform
Three-quarters of the world's nickel refining runs through a single country. We are building a second route.
BANIQL is an independent, non-HPAL route to Class 1 nickel — proven at pre-pilot scale in Indonesia since 2024, with battery-grade product validated by potential customers and a signed offtake LOI in hand.
- Diversified supply
- Non-HPAL route
- Near-ambient process
- Circular by-products
- Battery-grade Class 1
- Energy-efficient
- Near-zero waste
TRL 6
Technology readiness level (TRL)
>1,000 kg
Battery-grade MHP produced & validated
$16.5–21M
Signed (non-binding) offtake LOI, Korean customer
~70–80%
Less energy than HPAL
The approach
A cleaner, non-HPAL route to battery-grade nickel
Selective, near-ambient chemistry
Our process is roughly 30x more nickel-selective than HPAL and runs at near-ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure — unlike HPAL's high-temperature, high-pressure autoclaves. It triples nickel concentration on the way to product.
Lower energy, circular by-products
The route uses about 70–80% less energy than HPAL, and its by-products are clean and recyclable — agricultural fertilizer and magnesium products rather than waste.
Overview
See how BANIQL works
A short overview of our technology and approach.
Why it matters
A category-defining critical-minerals platform
Nickel demand is set to grow roughly 2–3x by 2035 — pulled by EV batteries, the superalloys in spacecraft and jet engines, and the gas turbines powering AI data centers — yet about 75% of refining is concentrated in a single country and Class 1 nickel flips to structural deficit around 2028–2029 (IEA, Benchmark Minerals, S&P Global).
Validated Product
Over 1,000 kg of battery-grade MHP produced at our pre-pilot facility and evaluated by potential customers in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the US.
Secured Supply Chain
A long-term ore-supply MOU in Indonesia anchors feedstock for scale-up, from nickel ore through to nickel sulfate.
Production Capabilities
A pre-pilot facility operating in Indonesia since 2024, processing more than 100 kg/day of ore at near-ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Commercial Traction
A signed, non-binding offtake LOI with a Korean customer — estimated at US$16.5–21M — validating demand for new, diversified sources of Class 1 nickel.
From pre-pilot to commercial
Designed to scale as modular nickel refineries
The pre-pilot facility in Indonesia has run since 2024, processing over 100 kg of ore per day. The same near-ambient, atmospheric-pressure chemistry is designed to scale into modular commercial refineries — sited close to ore and free of the heavy autoclave footprint that defines HPAL.
Backed by
Our team
Operator-grade team and advisors
Eric Januar
CEO & Co-Founder
Willy Halim
CTO & Co-Founder
Seung Wan Kim
COO & Co-Founder
Yuriko Ishihara
Chief Financial Officer (Fractional)
Partners & sponsors
In the press
Latest news
Third Derivative (RMI)
Third Derivative Unveils 26-Startup Climate Cohort Focused on Hard Tech and Deployment
BANIQL was selected into Third Derivative's new 26-startup climate cohort — spanning 13 countries and ~90% hardware, materials and infrastructure — targeting hard-to-abate sectors.
May 20, 2026
WIPO Magazine
Green-nickel extraction: Baniql's IP scaling strategy
WIPO Magazine profiles how BANIQL's patent filings (2022 and 2024) and trade-secret strategy underpin its low-energy, near-zero-waste nickel extraction — and helped validate the technology to investors.
February 5, 2026
BusinessKorea
Silicon Valley Startup BANIQL Secures Investment from 500 Global
BANIQL secured additional seed investment from 500 Global, Genesia Ventures and BEENEXT to scale its lower-cost, lower-impact nickel and cobalt processing and expand across Asia.
October 13, 2025
Contact us
Reach out to learn more about BANiQL.
Get in touch to learn more about the Baniql Process, get samples, and discuss opportunities to be part of our journey.