Canadian miners prepares to cash in on Cobalt demand for electrical vehicles (EVs)

Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO, LiCoO₂) and other cobalt containing mixed metal oxides (containing e.g. Mn and or Ni) are widely used in lithium ion batteries. These materials are composed of cobalt oxide layers in which the lithium is intercalated. During discharge, the lithium is released as lithium ions, hence the name lithium ion batteries (LIB). Besides the mobile device industry (phones, laptop tablets etc.) the electrical vehicle industry is creating an increase in the demand for cobalt, increasing the need to find additional sources in stable areas of the world. 

According to USGS latest report, Congo (Kinshasa) continued to be the world’s leading source of mined cobalt, supplying more than one-half of world cobalt mine production. (LINK). Besides mining 30% of the cobalt comes from recycling. Due to political, legal and labor issues (child labor) in Congo, Canadian miners prepares to cash in on Cobalt demand for electrical vehicles (EVs).

WSJ Reports:  TORONTO—A handful of Canadian miners are ramping up operations to mine cobalt, betting on demand for a socially responsible source of the metal that is in high demand as a key component of electric cars.

Most cobalt currently comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where supply is threatened by political, legal and labor issues. That means car makers and battery suppliers are increasingly looking elsewhere for the mineral. 

Full story: LINK

Some beautiful cobalt cotaining minerals from Ontario Canada - Top Skutterudite and below Nickeline (Cobalt, Ontario, Canada, Wikipedia)