A new kind of cobalt projectThe first thing to note about Broken Hill is that cobalt is its sole product, a unique aspect that sets it apart from other operations around the world. “Globally, 98% of cobalt is a byproduct of copper or nickel,” says Kaderavek. “In the case of copper it’s 60% of that market. And in nickel’s case, it’s around 38%. Cobalt is essentially an accidental metal for everyone except us.” Such an operations model means costs are cut, as capital and equipment expenditure are focused solely on the one material, as opposed to any other metals extracted. The method of extraction itself is also novel.“We developed a process that thermally decomposes the pyrite, so there are no acidic by-products,” Kaderavek says. “It materially drops costs and makes the process environmentally friendly. It’s a very elegant solution to the challenge.”The project is anticipated to produce around 4,000 tonnes of battery-ready cobalt per year, with a project lifespan of 20+ years. As well as the modified extraction process, electrified mine vehicles and eco-friendly processing will ensure that operations are environmentally sound. “We’re very proud of our operations because we’re large and open cut, we’ll be rehabilitating the ground when we finish, and it will all go back to the local community,” says Kaderavek.Perhaps more importantly, the project will not only extract the metal but also refine it – avoiding the usual process of sending the mineral to China, where the methods of processing are often shrouded in something of a mystery that has previously been cause for ethical concern.“There’s a big push to source ethical cobalt,” Kaderavek says. “Today, by the time cobalt is refined and goes into a battery, you’ve no idea what went into it. In any given electric vehicle, for example, you might have six to a dozen sources blended together and you’ve got no idea what’s what. Unless you physically track the materials, you really don’t have any idea.”A pilot plant for the project is currently being built, with the hope for the final stage to be completed in the next two years. Looking forward, Kaderavek says that there is potential for the project to expand its reach to other domestic projects, bringing in cobalt from operations throughout Australia for refinement and setting the country up as a processing hub in its own right. With cobalt set to take centre stage as the battery revolution takes hold, new players are entering the market to vie for a place at the table – with Australia poised to play a significant role. While the efficacy of many projects in the pipeline is still unknown, Broken Hill serves as an example of the kind of environmentally-driven operations that will likely populate cobalt’s future. QUOTE
This was published in March but now is becoming relevant as the environmental production of cobalt is in the news, COB is unique among the array of hopefuls vying for relevance in the market IMO
https://www.mining-technology.com/features/australia-cashes-in-on-cobalt/
