<p>The rapid development of the new energy industry has significantly increased the demand for nickel, a crucial metal in energy production. Consequently, laterite nickel ore has become an essential raw material for nickel smelting. The paper introduces a promising sulphidizing smelting technique to produce nickel matte from laterite nickel ore. Pyrite is a sulphidizing agent that selectively sulfurizes nickel and cobalt, enriching the nickel and cobalt in the ore into nickel matte. The study investigates the effect of flux on the liquidus temperature of slag. Additionally, it explores how variations in oxygen potential and the addition of sulfurizing agents affect the phases of nickel matte, the extraction ratios, and the grade of nickel and cobalt in the matte. The results indicate that the m_(SiO2)/m_(MgO) ratio significantly influences the liquidus temperature of slag. When the m_(SiO2)/m_(MgO) ratio is between 2.5 and 3.0, it is possible to achieve a smelting range with a liquidus temperature significantly below 1500&#xa0;°C. Under specific conditions of a m_(SiO2)/m_(MgO) ratio of 2.5, calcium oxide addition of 10%, <i>p</i>O₂ = 10^–9.5&#xa0;atm, 4% reducing agent carbon, and 6.5% sulfurizing agent, maintained at a constant temperature for 4&#xa0;h, the extraction ratios of nickel and cobalt are 98.72% and 85.72%, respectively. The grades of nickel and cobalt are 21.35% and 0.96%, respectively. The phases present in the nickel matte include nickel–iron, nickel matte, and FeS, with a sulfur content of 22.92% in the nickel matte and a sulfur utilization ratio of 54.84%.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>