Abstract: The low-grade laterite-nickel ore was treated by thermal carbon reduction-magnetic separation process to enrich the metallic nickel with activated carbon powder as reductant. With the additive A added in the pre-reduced pellets to stimulate the growth of metallic grains in them and magnetic separation of magnetic substance from nonmagnetic substance, the reduction reaction of laterite-nickel ore occurred at the temperature below conventional melting point, thus, reducing greatly the energy consumption. The testing results showed that the optimal reduction conditions are 1320°C for 120min and the proportional mass fractions of activated carbon powder and the additive A are 3% and 5%, respectively. The additive A accelerates the aggregation of metallic grains so as to make the enriched metallic grains easier for magnetic separation. The mass fraction of maximum nickel in ferronickel alloy and nickel recovery in the laterite-nickel ore are 8.31% and 95.44%, respectively. Metallic nickel is thus enriched. The proposed process has such advantages as short in procedure, easy to operate, low energy consumption and high economic benefit from ferronickel alloy.