就在刚刚，欧盟正式宣布，要调查英国矿业巨头英美资源集团把镍矿业务卖给东方的事

Core Viewpoint - The European Union has officially announced an investigation into the sale of a nickel mining business by a UK mining giant, which was finalized in February for a price of up to $500 million, involving a nickel mine with reserves of 5.2 million tons and an annual production capacity of 40,000 tons of nickel iron [1][3]. Group 1: Company Actions - The UK mining giant's decision to sell its nickel business is part of a strategy to divest non-core assets following an unsuccessful acquisition attempt by another mining company last year [3]. - The sale of the relatively smaller Brazilian nickel mine aligns with the current low nickel prices, presenting a buying opportunity for the acquiring company [3]. Group 2: Industry Context - Nickel is crucial for the production of electric vehicle batteries, yet the region's nickel reserves account for only 3.1% of global supply, leading to a high dependency on imports [6]. - The acquisition aims to address the supply chain gaps in the renewable energy sector, particularly in nickel sourcing [6]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment - The EU's investigation into potential antitrust issues raises concerns about nickel supply security, which some view as a politically motivated obstruction of a mutually beneficial transaction [7]. - The EU's previous actions against other international collaborations suggest a pattern of intervention that may not favor genuine economic cooperation [7].