The London Metal Exchange (LME) has approved the listing of the first Indonesian brand which can be delivered against the exchange’s primary nickel contract, it said on Thursday, strengthening the selling power of the world’s largest miner.

The French government on Monday promoted a private sector plan to develop a nickel and cobalt refinery near Bordeaux to reinforce the country’s supply chain for electric vehicle batteries and reduce its reliance on China.

More Chinese nickel is expected to flow overseas after the London Metal Exchange banned new Russian supplies, according to Mysteel Global.

US and British sanctions imposed on Russian nickel, copper and aluminum will further increase price volatility and supply uncertainty, Russian metals-producing giant Norilsk Nickel said on Tuesday.

Washington and London on Friday prohibited metal-trading exchanges from accepting new aluminum, copper and nickel produced by Russia and barred the import of the metals into the US and Britain.

More than 25 global auto and battery makers have expressed interest in buying nickel from Australia-listed producer Nickel Industries' new Indonesian plant, CEO Justin Werner said on Tuesday, in the latest boost to Indonesia's nickel dominance.

Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest has called on China to demand higher environmental standards from its global supply chain, particularly its companies conducting nickel processing in Indonesia, the Financial Times said on Sunday.

PT Harum Energy has bought a controlling stake in a nickel processing plant, part of a trend of Indonesian coal miners moving into metals vital to the energy transition.