Cobalt - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Artisanal miners could help Congo's EGC become world’s 4th largest cobalt producer 1

Congo’s Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) could become the world’s fourth-largest cobalt producer in 2021, a new Roskill report states. According to the market analyst, if the state-owned company is able to capture all of the 8,000 tonnes of cobalt expected to be produced by artisanal and small-scale miners in the African country, then it may become a major player, only behind Glencore, ERG and China Molybdenum. THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HOLDS AROUND 70% OF THE WORLD’S RESERVES OF COBALT AND IS ALSO THE LARGEST PRODUCER, ACCOUNTING FOR OVER 70% OF COBALT MINE SUPPLY… Read More Here

Cobalt Mining in DRC

A positive step towards empowering ASMs

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021 admin

Did you know that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) cobalt accounts for more than 63% of global production? Of this, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activity is responsible for approximately 20% of this production. Yet, despite their significant contribution, little has been done to help formalise the ASM cobalt sector in the country. That is until now. EGC will now be responsible for purchasing all domestically produced ASM cobalt ore, prior to processing and/or transformation and marketing. As part of the initiative, EGC also launched its Responsible Sourcing Standards to define… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt International

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

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 admin

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

Copper Cobalt Mining in DRC Zinc

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

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 admin

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

Mining in DRC Cobalt New Mining Projects

DRC launches state-owned cobalt miner

March 31, 2021March 31, 2021 admin

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

Cobalt Copper Mining in DRC

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

March 30, 2021March 30, 2021 admin

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

Cobalt International Mining in DRC

Volkswagen leads Tesla in consumption of cobalt in EV industry

March 23, 2021March 23, 2021 admin

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

Lithium Cobalt Nickel

Nickel demand for EVs to outpace lithium and cobalt – report

March 17, 2021March 17, 2021 admin

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

Battery Metals Cobalt International

Electric cars will cost more using ethically sourced batteries

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021 admin

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

Cobalt Mining in DRC

China’s Wanbao Mining produces first cobalt hydroxide in Congo

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021 admin

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