How is cobalt mined?

98% of cobalt production is mined as a by-product

Various nickel and copper ores are processed by both pyrometallurgical

pyrometallurgical

Examples of elements extracted by pyrometallurgical processes include the oxides of less reactive elements like iron, copper, zinc, chromium, tin, and manganese.

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Pyrometallurgy - Wikipedia

and hydro-metallurgical techniques. The members of the Cobalt Institute are the main producers, representing over 70% of mined production globally.

How is cobalt mined and extracted?

Extraction from sulfide ores is done using floatation, sulfide smelting to converter matte and later refining of the matte to recover cobalt. The extraction from lateritic ores is by leaching, sulfide precipitation, re-dissolution, cobalt solvent extraction and then electrowinning or hydrogen reduction.

Is child labor used to mine cobalt?

Small-scale mining in the DRC involves people of all ages, including children, obligated to work under harsh conditions. Of the 255,000 Congolese mining for cobalt, 40,000 are children, some as young as six years.

Is cobalt mined ethically?

Cobalt mining in the DRC is rife with human rights abuses, such as the use of child labor. According to Amnesty International, an estimated 40,000 children are employed in artisanal mining in the DRC. A lack of proper safety precautions is also common practice and accidents frequently occur.

Where does Tesla get its cobalt?

In June 2020, Tesla signed a long-term deal to source cobalt from Glencore for its new “giga-factories” in Berlin and Shanghai.

Inside the murky business of cobalt mining in DR Congo

What will replace cobalt in batteries?

Some cobalt-free batteries do already exist, but they require some trade-offs. “There is already a viable cobalt-free battery and that is lithium iron phosphate or LFP.

Will we run out of cobalt?

More than 70% of the world's cobalt is produced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and any nation that produces electronics wants in on that source. But based on operational mines and projected demand, forecasters predict that supply won't be able to keep up with demand by 2030, or even as early as 2025.

What is the problem with mining cobalt?

Waste generated from mining cobalt and other metals can pollute water, air and soil, leading to decreased crop yields, contaminated food and water, and respiratory and reproductive health issues. Miners reported that working conditions were unsafe, unfair and stressful.

Is cobalt used in solar panels?

Polysilicon is a key input for most types of solar panels. Products using Congolese cobalt, like the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs and energy storage, have escaped those kinds of enforcement actions.

Is cobalt used in lithium batteries?

Cobalt is one of the primary metals in lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from laptops to cell phones to electric cars.

Do Tesla batteries use cobalt?

Tesla is already using cobalt-free LFP batteries in half of its new cars produced. Tesla confirmed that nearly half of all its vehicles produced last quarter are already using cobalt-free iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Do they use cobalt in electric car batteries?

The majority of cobalt used in electric car batteries comes from mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but many electric car makers are trying to transition away from using cobalt for several reasons, such as: The high demand for electric vehicles far outpaces the rate at which cobalt can be extracted.

Are Iphones made with child labor?

In 2020, several publications found alleged incidents of forced labor in Apple's supply chain. In the company's report today, Apple says it found no evidence of forced labor or underage child labor.

How do you extract pure cobalt?

In the ammonia pressure leaching of nickel, cobalt is recovered from solution by reduction with hydrogen under pressure. In refineries using a chloride leach for nickel matte, solvent extraction is used to remove cobalt directly from the pregnant solution.

How bad is cobalt for the environment?

Blasting and electricity consumption in cobalt mining is damaging to the environment. Eutrophication and global warming are the most affected impact categories. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emission are highest from cobalt mining.

Where do you get cobalt from?

More than 70 percent of the world's cobalt is produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and 15 to 30 percent of the Congolese cobalt is produced by artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

Can cobalt be mined safely?

Around one-fifth of cobalt mined in the DRC comes from small-scale artisanal mines. People, including children as young as 7 years old, work in hazardous conditions without gloves to protect them from contact dermatitis, breathing cobalt-laden dust that is associated with a potentially fatal lung disease.

Why is there so much cobalt in Congo?

Congo mines around two-thirds of the world's cobalt, an ingredient in lithium-ion batteries, and is Africa's leading producer of copper. Demand for the minerals is rising to power electric vehicles and electronic devices.

Which country produces the most cobalt?

How much is cobalt worth?

In 2021, the average spot price of cobalt in the U.S. stood at 23 U.S. dollars per pound. This is a considerable price decrease from 2018, when the price was 37.4 U.S. dollars per pound. Cobalt has a variety of uses, most commonly in the industrial sector.

Why is cobalt bad in batteries?

In addition, cobalt in a lithium ion battery creates a significant and unavoidable risk of fires. Even when inactive or in standby, cobalt batteries spontaneously ignite, whether they be shoddy hoverboards or high-end, luxury electric vehicles.

Who owns the largest cobalt mines?

Glencore is the world's largest cobalt-mining company, with total production in 2017 of 27,400 tonnes, and plans to increase output to 63,000 tonnes by 2020.

Who owns the cobalt mines?

However, Cobalt is a unique commodity because it's primarily controlled by only two countries: China and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC supplies about 70 percent of the world's Cobalt, but 80% of its industrial cobalt mines are owned or financed by Chinese companies.

What metal is used most in electric cars?

Electric vehicles typically use two precious earth metals: gold and silver. These are used in minute quantities in the circuit boards, which also occurs in modern fossil fuelled vehicles. The circuit boards run the electronics. These valuable metals are fully recyclable.

How much cobalt is in a Tesla?

For instance, Tesla's current vehicle batteries contain less than five percent cobalt and the company announced in September 2020 that they are developing their own batteries that will be cobalt-free.