A new battery-grade cobalt refinery is set to be established in a former silver mining region in northern Ontario, making it the first of its kind in North America. This development is taking place in the town of Cobalt, which is aptly named given the project’s focus on cobalt processing.
The upcoming facility will specialize in refining cobalt rock into cobalt sulfate, which is a crucial component in lithium-ion batteries used extensively in electric vehicles, smartphones, and military aircraft. Electra Battery Materials, the company spearheading the initiative, anticipates full operational capacity by the end of 2027, with an annual production potential of 6,500 tonnes of battery-grade cobalt. This output could meet the needs of approximately one million electric vehicle batteries each year.
Trent Mell, the founder and CEO of Electra Battery Materials, highlighted the growing importance of critical minerals like cobalt in modern society, emphasizing their significance beyond just powering vehicles and energy storage to encompass national security concerns.
The refinery’s metallurgical lead, Graham Kinsman, is actively involved in refining processes to ensure the removal of impurities such as iron and copper from the cobalt, resulting in a high-purity cobalt product essential for battery stability and longevity.
Although Cobalt, Ontario, gained its name from the discovery of cobalt during the early 1900s, the refinery will not be sourcing cobalt locally but will import it from overseas. The town’s historical significance lies in its silver mining boom, which peaked in the 1920s, supplying a significant portion of the global silver output during that period.
The raw cobalt supply for the refinery will be sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a region where the majority of the world’s cobalt is mined. Despite concerns about mining practices in the DRC, Electra Battery Materials is committed to addressing these issues through audits and ensuring responsible supply chain practices.
The establishment of the cobalt refinery in Cobalt, Ontario, marks a significant step towards diversifying the battery-grade cobalt supply chain, reducing reliance on Chinese dominance in this sector. The project aims to contribute to global cobalt sulfate production and strengthen the critical minerals supply chain in North America, aligning with national security interests and geopolitical considerations.