Saudi Arabia of cobalt: Congo eyes battery-metal price power 1 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt International 

Saudi Arabia of cobalt: Congo eyes battery-metal price power

Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s main source of vital battery ingredient cobalt, is also one of the poorest nations. And while it’s dominated by huge industrial mines, about a fifth of its silvery-blue metal is still hand-dug, in often unregulated and dangerous conditions. Jean-Dominique Takis Kumbo, the head of the new state cobalt buyer, is determined to change that. His Entreprise Generale du Cobalt will have a monopoly on all hand-dug cobalt in the central African country, giving it power to improve working conditions and potential control of nearly… Read More Here
DRC Government notes a drop in the price of mining products on weekdays on the international market 2 Copper Cobalt Mining in DRC Zinc 

DRC Government notes a drop in the price of mining products on weekdays on the international market

The prices of most mining products were revised downward during the last week of March 2021. This is indicated by the Economic Conjuncture Committee (CCE) at the end of the meeting held on Wednesday 31st March 2021. According to the CCE, the prices of products such as Copper, Cobalt, Zinc and Manganese have been revised downwards. Since the end of 2020, commodity prices had particularly remained on the rise until the last week of March 2021. “ The Government has noted a drop in the prices of all export mining products,… Read More Here
DRC launches state-owned cobalt miner 3 Mining in DRC Cobalt New Mining Projects 

DRC launches state-owned cobalt miner

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially begun operations at Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC), a state-owned company with monopoly rights to the purchase and sale of the country’s hand-mined cobalt. EGC, created a year ago to help control artisanal supplies and boost government revenue through price controls, will sell cobalt hydroxide under a five-year contract with trading house Trafigura. The non-exclusive supply deal will also see Trafigura finance the creation of strictly controlled artisanal mining zones, buying centres and logistics to trace supply. DRC holds around 70% of the world’s reserves of cobalt, crucial… Read More Here
FLSmidth high density thickeners optimise recoveries at DRC copper-cobalt mine 4 Cobalt Copper Mining in DRC 

FLSmidth high density thickeners optimise recoveries at DRC copper-cobalt mine

FLSmidth says it has delivered a thickener solution to help double production rates at one of the world’s largest copper and cobalt producers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The order for the solution, which included six of FLSmidth’s high density thickeners, was placed in 2020, with delivery now completed. The mine already had FLSmidth thickeners on site, with the company’s proposal for the mine’s expanded requirements  based on test work to confirm the characteristics of the material to be treated, according to FLSmidth General Manager Projects and… Read More Here
Volkswagen leads Tesla in consumption of cobalt in EV industry 5 Cobalt International Mining in DRC 

Volkswagen leads Tesla in consumption of cobalt in EV industry

New data on the use of cobalt, a key ingredient in the most common types of lithium-ion batteries used for electric vehicles (EVs), reveals some interesting facts about leaders in the EV manufacturing industry, in particular in regard to Tesla and Volkswagen. In particular, the data reveals the effect that Tesla’s use of lithium iron phosphate batteries is having on its consumption of cobalt. The surge in electric vehicle sales worldwide is accompanied by an increase in demand for the materials used to make lithium-ion batteries that power them. Cobalt… Read More Here
Nickel demand for EVs to outpace lithium and cobalt – report 6 Lithium Cobalt Nickel 

Nickel demand for EVs to outpace lithium and cobalt – report

As battery metals continue to rise to the forefront of attention, much has centered around lithium and cobalt. Governments have enacted policies to encourage investment into the critical raw materials they deem essential to the green energy transition. At the same time, supply chain concerns surrounding nickel have begun to garner increasing focus. As a key component of battery cathode chemistry in many existing and upcoming electric vehicles (EVs), nickel will remain an important metal to watch in the coming decade, market analyst Fitch Solutions maintains in its latest industry report. Fitch has updated its estimate of… Read More Here
Electric cars will cost more using ethically sourced batteries 7 Battery Metals Cobalt International 

Electric cars will cost more using ethically sourced batteries

The European Union’s efforts to ethically source a key battery metal face headwinds that could make it more expensive for automakers to go electric. Cobalt is the battery metal at the highest risk of being exploited in ways that damage the health of people and the environment. Most of the world’s supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with as much as a third of that supplied by small-scale miners who often work in dangerous conditions. Regulators have begun developing rules designed to help industry avoid damaging its reputation. But those “ambitious requirements… Read More Here
China's Wanbao Mining produces first cobalt hydroxide in Congo 8 Cobalt Mining in DRC 

China’s Wanbao Mining produces first cobalt hydroxide in Congo

China’s Wanbao Mining said on Monday it had produced the first batch of cobalt hydroxide – a chemical used in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) – from its Pumpi mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on March 12. Wanbao, a subsidiary of state-owned Chinese military supplier Norinco, said the Pumpi copper-cobalt project in Kolwezi has now been fully commissioned following the production of the first copper cathodes six months ago. Prices for cobalt CBD0 have gained some 65% so far in 2021, hitting two-year highs of around $53,000 a tonne… Read More Here
Spike in electric vehicle sales drives cobalt price hike 9 Battery Metals Cobalt International Mining in DRC 

Spike in electric vehicle sales drives cobalt price hike

Demand and prices for battery material cobalt are soaring as electric vehicles stream out of showrooms in China and Europe, with little prospect of a significant reversal as drivers and governments move to cut carbon emissions, reports Reuters. Payables – a reference to the percentage of the cobalt metal price used to price hydroxide, a feedstock for electric vehicle (EV) batteries – are up at around 93-94% from about 63-69% a year ago, analysts from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence said. “Primarily the price rise has been driven by real demand, largely… Read More Here
CNPAV calls on DRC President to investigate the numerous contracts awarded to Dan Gertler following US decision 10 Mining in DRC Cobalt Economy 

CNPAV calls on DRC President to investigate the numerous contracts awarded to Dan Gertler following US decision

The synergy of the NGOs “Congo is not for sale” (CNPAV) welcomes the decision of the Biden administration to revoke the license against the Israeli businessman, Dan Gertler, and to fully reimpose the sanctions against him and its companies for corruption. “We welcome the US government’s decision to revoke the license against businessman Dan Gertler to fully reimpose sanctions against him and his companies for corruption. This decision by the Biden administration brings renewed energy to our anti-corruption efforts in the Congo. All those who have courageously raised their voices to denounce… Read More Here

You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

Copperbelt Katanga Mining will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.