Broken Hill global cobalt province., page-113

Cobalt, lithium and nickel are also “minerals” – in that they are raw materials that are produced through different methods of mining around the world, often concentrated in countries that face socio-economic and environmental challenges. As known global reserves are depleted, these minerals are becoming increasingly scarce, and companies look to access resources in more remote and challenging locations to meet global demand. Cobalt, lithium and nickel are also classified as critical minerals by the United States, European Union and Canadian governments because they are essential in enabling a transition away from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy. As a result, the impact of mining activity on the environment and local communities lends itself to greater environmental and social scrutiny from civil society, policymakers and investors. QUOTE
COB has a unique footprint in the environmentally processed ore that is just what automakers are seeking IMO

https://electrek.co/2022/05/09/tesla-sourcing-lithium-nickel-cobalt-directly-mines-details/