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High-Tech Metals Limited (ASX: HTM) (High-Tech, HTM or the Company), a critical battery minerals exploration Company, is pleased to provide the following report on its activities for the Quarter ending 30 September 2024 (“Quarter”). The Company’s primary activities during the quarter were the desktop review of Werner Lake Project, Canada, (“Werner Lake”).
HIGHLIGHTS
Sonu Cheema, Executive Director, commented:
"It is a pleasure to update the market on quarterly activities of High-Tech’s, specifically the Werner Lake cobalt, nickel, and PGE Project. Over the last 18 months High-Tech has generated significant data from the successful sampling and drilling programs. Through the compilation of the available historical data and the data derived from our successful exploration, I believe we will unlock the true value of Werner Lake.”
Desktop Review – Werner Lake
HTM commenced a desktop review of Werner Lake in the previous quarter aimed at delineating future exploration programs based on all available historical data and newly acquired data. The data derived from the successful Drilling Program, which focused on high priority drill targets, adds to the extensive data available on Werner Lake (refer ASX announcement – Drilling Results at Werner Lake – released 27 November 2023).
High-Tech’s Exploration at Werner Lake
From the outset of the 2023 campaign, focus was on testing new targets away from the Werner Lake deposit. Two areas were selected for a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the potential to locate economic cobalt, nickel, and PGE targets. These are shown below, essentially, the ‘East’ and ‘West’ blocks or grids.
The objective was to test cobalt, copper and nickel targets on a portion of the Werner Lake Property. The drill program was planned and carried out by the in-country geological consultants, Apex Geoservice (APEX). The program was completed on time and under budget.
Targets were based on a comprehensive appraisal and evaluation of historical geological and production data covering exploration and production on and around the Property, and on the somewhat limited geological and production data from the Gordon Lake Cu-Ni mine.
Table 1 – Total of 798 metres of NQ core was drilled over six holes.
Figure 1 – Werner Lake final DDH locations and access.
The results from the ground-based magnetometer survey, lithogeochemical sampling, and prospecting provided additional focus with the primary targets all located on the east block, east of Gordon Lake and the Gordon Lake mine (refer ASX announcement – WERNER LAKE SAMPLING DISCOVER HIGH GRADE Ni SULPHIDE & Cu-Co – released 30 August 2023).
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from High-Tech Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
A royalty company fully diversified in clean energy metals, Electric Royalties (TSXV:ELEC,OTCQB:ELECF) holds 42 total royalties with 18 additional optioned properties that could be converted into future royalties. The company focuses on on properties with near-term production potential in safe jurisdictions (primarily, the US and Canada). Its current royalty portfolio consists of assets that are either in production, advanced stage projects or exploration assets, ensuring cash flow generation and future growth potential.
The recent acquisition of the Punitaqui Copper Mine royalty provides immediate exposure to production, while assets like Authier Lithium and Battery Hill Manganese are expected to enter production in the near term.
The Punitaqui copper mine is permitted for 100,000 tonnes per month of processing capacity, with regional exploration potential that could further extend its operational life and increase production.
This Electric Royalties profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*
Electric Royalties is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the clean energy transition with a diversified, low-risk portfolio of high-value royalties that offer sustained growth and cash flow potential, making it a compelling investment opportunity.
Electric Royalties (TSXV:ELEC,OTCQB:ELECF) is an innovative royalty company offering investors exposure to the clean energy transition through its growing portfolio of clean energy metal royalties. The company stands out as the only fully diversified royalty firm in the space, holding 42 royalties across nine key clean energy metals, ensuring strategic access to the growing electrification and renewable energy industries.
The company’s strategy for shareholder value growth is centered on acquiring royalties in safe jurisdictions (primarily, the US and Canada) and focusing on properties with near-term production potential. This approach ensures steady cash flow generation while reducing operational risks. The company’s current royalty portfolio consists of assets that are either in production, advanced stage projects or exploration assets, ensuring cash flow generation and future growth potential.
The recent acquisition of the Punitaqui Copper Mine royalty provides immediate exposure to production, while assets like Authier Lithium and Battery Hill Manganese are expected to enter production in the near term.
This collective expertise within Electric Royalties' management and advisory teams ensures a strategic and well-governed approach to capitalizing on opportunities in the clean energy metals sector.
The Punitaqui Mining Complex includes the copper processing plant that is currently permitted for 100,000 tonnes per month. (Source: Battery Mineral Resources Corp.)
The Punitaqui copper mine is a producing asset operated by Battery Mineral Resources, on which Electric Royalties holds a 0.75 percent gross revenue royalty (GRR). Located in the Coquimbo Region of Chile, the mine benefits from four satellite copper deposits, strong infrastructure, and established processing facilities.
The mine is permitted for 100,000 tonnes per month of processing capacity, with regional exploration potential that could further extend its operational life and increase production.
The Authier lithium project is a key lithium asset in Quebec, Canada, operated by Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA). Electric Royalties holds a 0.5 percent gross metal royalty (GMR) on part of the deposit. This project is a major component of Sayona's integration plan with North American Lithium (NAL), which commenced production in early 2023. Authier is expected to provide a stable supply of lithium for North America's growing EV battery industry, aligning with the push for localized supply chains.
The Battery Hill manganese project, located in New Brunswick, Canada, is an advanced-stage project operated by Manganese X Energy. Electric Royalties holds a 2 percent GMR on the project, which is currently undergoing a prefeasibility study. The asset is well-positioned to support the growing demand for high-purity manganese, a critical component in EV batteries and energy storage technologies. Recent metallurgical testing has demonstrated strong recovery rates, further increasing its economic potential.
The Mont Sorcier vanadium project, located in Quebec, Canada, is operated by Cerrado Gold. Electric Royalties holds a 1 percent GMR on this project, which is undergoing a feasibility study and permitting process. Mont Sorcier is a large iron-vanadium deposit, with the potential to provide a stable supply of vanadium for steel production and emerging battery technologies. With increasing demand for vanadium redox flow batteries, this project is poised for long-term strategic importance.
The Zonia copper project, located in Arizona, USA, is operated by World Copper (TSXV:WCU). Electric Royalties holds a 0.5 percent GRR on Zonia, with an option to add 1 percent GRR on Zonia North. Zonia is an oxide copper deposit with near-surface, leachable ore, making it a low-cost, open-pit mining opportunity. The project has undergone resource expansion, and a feasibility study is targeted for completion in 2025. Given the strong US push for domestic copper production, Zonia is well-positioned to benefit from critical minerals policies supporting infrastructure and electrification efforts.
Appointed as CEO in July 2019 and president in June 2020, Brendan Yurik brings more than five years of leadership to Electric Royalties. He directly owns approximately 3.29 percent of the company's shares, reflecting his commitment to the company's success.
Serving as CFO since July 2019, Luqman Khan oversees the company's financial operations, ensuring fiscal responsibility and strategic financial planning.
With a focus on computer-based deposit modeling and quantification, David Gaunt has been instrumental in advancing projects worldwide. His expertise enhances Electric Royalties' ability to assess and manage its diverse portfolio of royalties.
With a tenure of more than four years, Marchand Snyman chairs the governance and nominating committees, bringing a wealth of experience in corporate oversight and strategic direction.
Appointed in November 2020, Robert Schafer brings more than 30 years of international experience in mineral exploration and mining, enhancing the board's technical and strategic capabilities.
Craig Lindsay has 30 years’ experience in corporate finance, investment banking, and business development. He was the managing director of Arbutus Grove Capital and CEO of Lonestar Lithium. Most recently, Lindsay was the founder, president, and CEO of Otis Gold until its sale to Excellon Resources in April 2020. He is a director of Revolve Renewable Power, Excellon Resources, VR Resources and Silver North Resources.
Stefan Gleason is the president, CEO, and majority shareholder of Money Metals Exchange LLC, a privately held company that is among the largest precious metals dealers and depositories in North America with over C$1 billion in annual revenues. Gleason is also the managing director of Gleason & Sons LLC, a Charlotte, N.C.-based family limited liability company which holds and manages debt, equity, and real estate investments. With past appearances on U.S. television networks such as CNN, FoxNews, Fox Business, and CNBC, Gleason is also a regular columnist for Seeking Alpha and Investing.com and has been published by the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Mining.com and TheStreet, among other publications.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the largest producer of cobalt globally, has halted all exports of the key battery metal for four months in an effort to curb oversupply and stop prices from falling further.
The DRC, which produces about three-quarters of the world's cobalt, implemented the suspension on February 22, as per Patrick Luabeya, president of the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances' Markets.
The decision follows a government decree allowing regulators to take emergency action in response to market instability.
"Exports must be aligned with world demand," Luabeya said in a written response to Bloomberg.
Cobalt production in the DRC has soared in recent years, largely driven by China’s CMOC Group (OTC Pink:CMCLF,SHA:603993), which has ramped up operations at two large mines.
This surge in supply has led to a significant drop in prices, with cobalt benchmark metal prices falling below US$10 per pound, the lowest level in over two decades except for a brief dip in late 2015.
Cobalt hydroxide, the primary form produced in the DRC, has dropped below US$6 per pound.
The decision to halt exports is part of an effort to prevent further declines.
"The situation required immediate action," Luabeya said, pointing to years of illegal mining and uncontrolled exports from both industrial and semi-industrial producers that have exacerbated the market glut.
He added that excess supply poses a "serious threat" to the country, as well as domestic and international investors.
While the suspension applies to all cobalt producers in the DRC, copper exports will remain unaffected. Cobalt is primarily mined as a by-product of copper in the DRC, but the two metals are marketed separately.
CMOC, now the world’s largest cobalt miner, significantly expanded its output in 2024, producing 114,165 metric tons and surpassing its full-year target within the first nine months of the year.
The company's projected output is set at 100,000 to 120,000 metric tons in 2025.
As mentioned, CMOC’s cobalt expansion has been a key factor in the ongoing market imbalance. It now accounts for more than 40 percent of global cobalt production, a level of dominance that has disrupted traditional market dynamics. The surge in supply from CMOC’s mines has left competitors scrambling.
Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF), previously the world’s top cobalt producer, has taken a different approach.
The company cut its 2025 production target for its Mutanda mine in the DRC by as much as 42 percent, citing weak market conditions and difficulty selling accumulated stockpiles.
In 2023, Glencore’s cobalt output fell 6 percent to 41,300 metric tons, while its copper production also declined.
To stabilize its operations, Glencore has reduced production rates at Mutanda, a move that will also impact its copper output and contrasts sharply with CMOC’s aggressive expansion. The DRC's cobalt export suspension is set for an initial four month period, but the government will review its decision in three months.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Battery metal cobalt has been in focus in recent years for its role in lithium-ion batteries, bringing attention to the top cobalt producing countries.
One of the metal’s main catalysts is the electric vehicle roll out. The lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles and energy storage require lithium, graphite and cobalt, among other raw materials, and demand for these important commodities is expected to keep rising as the shift toward clean technologies continues at a global scale.
Additionally, the metal is predominantly produced as a by-product of copper and nickel, two other metals that are important for the green transition.
However, supply growth in many of the battery metals has out scaled near-term demand, leading to a price pullback over the last two years. The cobalt market trended downwards in 2024, with prices falling 10 percent from July to September. While they stabilized for a few months, cobalt prices fell further in early 2025.
The cobalt market in 2025 is expected to largely remain stable as oversupply and shifting battery chemistries curb price volatility. The rise of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, particularly in China, continues to erode demand for cobalt chemicals, pressuring sulfate refiners and price growth.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s expanding mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) production offers an alternative to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but adds to an already full market.
“Oversupply has been the dominant driving force for cobalt prices since 2023,” said Roman Aubry of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, adding that this trend is likely to persist.
Longer term demand is projected to rise from 213,000 metric tons in 2023 to 454,000 metric tons by 2040, leading to a 16 percent shortfall by 2035, according to the International Energy Agency.
Investors interested in the sector should learn the top cobalt producers by country. According to the US Geological Survey, world production has increased significantly over the past two years.
In 2024, global production reached 290,000 metric tons (MT), representing a 21 percent increase from 2023’s 230,000 MT. Annual output has grown by 75 percent since 2021, when global cobalt mine supply totaled 165,000 MT.
Read on for a closer look at where cobalt is mined and which countries lead in production.
Cobalt production: 220,000 metric tons
In 2024 the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) produced 220,000 metric tons of cobalt, making it the world’s largest producer of cobalt, by far. Annual output from the country accounted for roughly 84 percent of all global production.
The DRC has been the top producer of the metal since 2003, and is likely to remain a crucial supplier to the cobalt market for the foreseeable future. However, cobalt mining in the DRC is plagued by human rights abuses and child labor due to widespread unregulated artisanal mining.
Efforts to regulate the sector and increase safety include the 2019 creation of state-owned Entreprise Générale du Cobalt, which struggled initially but secured exclusive mining rights to five areas through a 2024 agreement with state miner Gecamines.
Aside from that, the DRC's mines minister formally approved the ASM Cobalt Standard in 2022, and plans for assessing its effectiveness at pilot sites are being developed.The framework for a regulated artisanal mining sector was drafted by the Responsible Minerals Initiative, in cooperation with both global and local stakeholders.
Outside the DRC's artisanal mining sphere, cobalt is largely produced as a by-product of copper mines, including the Tenke Fungurume mine, owned by the CMOC Group (OTC Pink:CMCLF,HKEX:3993); and the Mutanda mine and Katanga complex, which are majority owned by Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF). Another significant producer is the Metalkol Roan Tailings Reclamation mine, a tailings processing operation owned by Eurasian Resources Group.
In early 2025, the CMOC Group — the world’s largest cobalt miner — revealed plans to maintain record production levels, forecasting output between 100,000 and 120,000 MT in 2025 after producing 114,165 MT in 2024.
The company’s rapid expansion at its Tenke Fungurume and Kisanfu mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo has doubled production, contributing to a supply glut that has driven cobalt prices to their lowest levels since 2016.
Cobalt production: 28,000 metric tons
Indonesia cobalt production topped 28,000 metric tons in 2024. Mined supply has steadily increased in the country, growing by 937 percent since 2021, when annual output sat at 2,700 MT.
Indonesia's battery metals sector grew rapidly after its 2020 nickel ore export ban, which attracted Chinese investment in Indonesian battery metals processing. Increased cobalt production stems from four new high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) facilities processing ore into mixed hydroxide precipitate for export.
The first two HPAL operations came online in 2021 as part of the existing Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park: one run by Huayue, a partnership between Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt (SHA:603799), Tsingshan Holding Group and CMOC Group; and one run by Halmahera Persada Lygend, owned by Lygend Resources (HKEX:2245) and Trimegah Bangun Persada (IDX:NCKL).
In late 2022, a third HPAL facility entered production, this one developed by QMB New Materials, a joint venture between Tsingshan, GEM (SZSE:002340), CATL (SZSE:300750) and Hanwa (TSE:8078). Huayou also launched the Huafei HPAL facility in 2023, which has annual capacity of 15,000 MT of cobalt.
In mid-2024, partners Eramet (EPA:ERA) and chemical producer BASF (OTCQX:BFFAF,FWB:BASF) decided against executing the planned US$2.6 billion Sonic Bay nickel-cobalt hydrometallurgical complex due to nickel market dynamics, including low prices and oversupply. Sonic Bay would have processed ore from the Weda Bay nickel mine to produce 7,500 MT of cobalt and 67,000 MT of nickel per year.
According to a market report released in May 2024 from the Cobalt Institute, Indonesia has the potential to triple its 2023 cobalt output by 2030. In the same vein, the report estimates that Indonesia's 2030 cobalt output will make up 16 percent of global production compared to 1 percent in 2021 and 5 percent in 2022.
While companies look to grow Indonesia’s cobalt presence, international concerns have been mounting about the impact of increased mining activity on the nation’s marine ecosystems. Much of the apprehension stems from mining activity in Raja Ampat Regency, a group of tropical islands near West Papua. The area houses 75 percent of the world's coral species and more than 1,500 fish species. It was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023.
Cobalt production: 8,700 metric tons
Russia’s cobalt production in 2024 came in at 8,700 metric tons. While both the DRC and Indonesia saw significant growth, Russia’s annual tally remained unchanged from the previous year, despite the country boasting large cobalt reserves of 250,000 MT.
Large Russian miner Norilsk Nickel produces cobalt and is among the world’s top five producers of the mineral.
With concerns about DRC cobalt running high, some automakers have been calling for increased electric vehicle battery production in Europe. There was hope that this push could boost Russia's future cobalt production — however, that may now be out of the question while the country wages war against Ukraine.
In April 2022, the US hit Russian cobalt with a 45 percent duty. The sanctions on Russian and Belarusian cobalt were extended in June 2024, and in September the US imposed a 25 percent tariff on Chinese cobalt.
Similarly, in December 2023, the UK government expanded its sanctions targeted at Russia to include an embargo of several critical metals, including tungsten, cobalt and tantalum.
Cobalt production: 4,500 metric tons
Canada produced 4,500 MT of cobalt in 2024, with most mined supply originating in the provinces of Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Québec. The nation has an estimated 230,000 MT of cobalt reserves.
In 2022, Canada released its Critical Minerals Strategy, which included cobalt in its list of 31 minerals and metals the country had deemed “critical” for the energy transition, national defense and economic growth.
According to the Canadian government, cobalt and cobalt-containing exports fell by 30 percent year-over-year in 2023 to C$567 million, down from C$813 million in 2022.
Key export destinations included Norway (19 percent), South Korea (15 percent), China (15 percent), the Netherlands (15 percent) and the US (13 percent), with shipments consisting of cobalt metallurgy intermediates, waste and scrap.
Vale (NYSE:VALE) and Glencore are two of the largest cobalt producers in Canada, producing the metal as a byproduct at several mines each.
Cobalt production: 3,800 metric tons
The Philippines is the fifth largest cobalt producer in the world with production of 3,800 metric tons in 2024, the same as its 2023 output. The Asian country is also a top nickel producer.
The fate of mining in the Philippines was up in the air for a while as former President Rodrigo Duterte and former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu called for a shutdown of all mines in the country based on environmental concerns. However, Duterte seemed to have a change of heart in early 2021, lifting a ban on new mine permits in an effort to boost revenues.
His successor, President Bongbong Marcos, has ordered the country's Department of Environment and Natural Resources to enforce stricter guidelines and safety protocols on both small- and large-scale mines. He hopes to bring illegal mining operations into compliance so they can operate legally and with safer conditions for employees.
In April 2024, the US reaffirmed plans for a supporting grant for Eramen Minerals to develop a nickel and cobalt processing plant in the Philippines, boosting the country’s downstream mineral industry.
Cobalt production: 3,600 metric tons
Australia’s annual cobalt production fell to 3,600 metric tons in 2024, contracting 31 percent from 5,220 MT in 2023. Despite the contraction, the island nation's cobalt reserves are the second largest in the world at 1.7 million MT.
As is the case for many other countries on this list, cobalt is produced in Australia as a by-product of copper and nickel mining. The country’s nickel mines are located in the western part of the country, mostly around the Kalgoorlie and Leonora regions.
Additionally, the Australian government has been sending geologists to search for cobalt in mine waste, an effort that bore fruit when Queensland geologist Anita Parbhakar-Fox tested a copper mine waste sample that graded 7,000 parts per million cobalt.
The CEO of Australian company Cobalt Blue Holdings (ASX:COB,OTC Pink:CBBHF) described the discovery as a game changer to the Financial Times, estimating there could be up to 300,000 MT of cobalt in Australian mine waste.
Another important cobalt project in the country under Cobalt Blue is the Broken Hill project, which will allow for cobalt production on-site, rather than extracted as a by-product of nickel. The company's planned Kwinana facility will produce battery-grade cobalt sulfate from third-party feedstock as well as Broken Hill ore.
Cobalt production: 3,500 metric tons
Cuban cobalt production made a modest gain in 2024 to 3,500 MT, up from 2023’s to 3,200 metric tons, but still short of the 3,700 MT mined in 2022.
The country’s Moa region is home to the Moa joint venture nickel-cobalt operation held by Canadian firm Sherritt International (TSX:S,OTC Pink:SHERF) and the General Nickel Company of Cuba.
Moa uses an open-pit mining system to produce lateritic ore, which is processed into mixed sulfides containing nickel and cobalt using HPAL. The country’s state-owned nickel miner is the sole operator of the Che Guevara processing plant at Moa.
In October 2024 operations at Sherritt’s Moa mine were temporarily reduced due to an island-wide blackout caused by a tropical storm. By October 28, the project returned to full operating capacity. According to annual financial results released on February 5, cobalt production from Moa totaled 3,206 MT, which the company says was within the guidance target range.
Cobalt production: 2,800 metric tons
In 2024, Papua New Guinea produced 2,800 metric tons of cobalt. Like other nations on the list, the small country off the coast of Australia produces cobalt as a by-product of nickel production. Additionally, the country has remained on the top 10 producers list for the last seven years.
The country’s main cobalt producer is the Ramu nickel mine near Madang, a joint venture between private company MCC Ramu NiCo, Nickel 28 Capital (TSXV:NKL,OTC Pink:CONXF) and the Papua New Guinea government.
A mid-October report from Benchmark noted that by 2030, Chinese companies are expected to control 85 percent of cobalt output from Papua New Guinea, enhancing China’s global share of mined cobalt supply to 46 percent.
In January 2025, it was reported that Nickel 28 is considering a US$1 billion expansion at the Ramu mine that would aim to double annual output. The company’s 2025 guidance notes that cobalt output should remain steady this year at 2,900 MT.
Cobalt production: 2,700 metric tons
In 2024, Turkey produced 2,700 MT of cobalt. Turkey’s output has been on a steady uptick in recent years, rising from 2,100 MT in 2022 to 2,500 metric tons in 2023 and even higher last year. The nation also boasts reserves totaling 91,000 MT.
A 2021 report from the British Geological Survey underscored the importance of Turkey's cobalt potential amid the energy transition, noting “the greatest cobalt resource potential lies in laterite deposits in the Balkans and Turkey and in magmatic and black shale-hosted deposits in Fennoscandia.”
It went on to point out that in the Balkans and Turkey, 27 nickel laterite deposits are known to contain cobalt in significant quantities, with several deposits holding over 10,000 MT of cobalt metal. Currently, only nickel is extracted from these deposits, but advancements in processing technologies like high-pressure acid leaching may allow for cobalt recovery in the future.
The country's Meta nickel-cobalt mine in Gördes is one of only a few nickel mines in Europe, making it important to the EU's ability to meet European demand for electric vehicle battery materials. In September 2024, the planned expansion of the mine sparked local resistance, as community members raised concerns that the project was destroying forests, draining water and harming agriculture.
Cobalt production: 2,600 metric tons
Madagascar’s cobalt-production fell to 2,600 metric tons in 2024, a 53 percent decline from 2023’s 4,000 MT.
Much of the country’s cobalt production comes from the Ambatovy nickel-cobalt mine, owned through a joint venture by Japanese company Sumitomo (TSE:8053) and a Korean state-owned entity. The mine has faced production and profitability issues.
In August 2024, the companies submitted a debt restructuring plan to a London court. According to media reports, Sumitomo, the project's major shareholder, has accumulated 410 billion yen in losses stemming from the project, including a 265.5 billion yen total impairment loss.
Most recently, in October, a pipeline moving ore from the mine to a processing and refining plant had to be shut down due to damage. While production began slowly ramping up at the end of the month, Ambatovy's future remains uncertain.
As cobalt is only found in a chemically combined form, it must be separated from mined ore. Most commonly, cobalt is produced as a by-product at copper or nickel mines. According to Benchmark Minerals, currently three-quarters of cobalt is produced from copper-primary mines and 25 percent is produced from nickel-primary mines. The agency forecasts that by 2030, cobalt production from copper-primary mines will fall to 57 percent, while that from nickel-primary mines will rise to 41 percent.
Cobalt is the 32nd most common element on Earth, according to the Cobalt Institute, meaning it isn't particularly rare. However, only a handful of countries have cobalt reserves over 300,000 MT, with the DRC coming in first place at 4 million MT, Australia in second at 1.5 million MT and Indonesia coming in third place with 600,000 MT. In fact, the DRC has higher cobalt reserves than the rest of the world combined.
How long it will take to deplete cobalt reserves and resources depends on the approach and speed with which electrification and a fully renewable society is approached, according to a 2019 study. Another factor is whether or not lithium-ion battery formulas that require cobalt will continue to be the norm in the future. If widespread cobalt substitution does take place, that will ease demand pressures on the metal.
Cobalt has risen in recent years due to supply chain difficulties and the metal's necessity in many lithium-ion battery cathodes, with prices peaking in March and April 2022 at over US$80,000 per MT. However, prices have fallen since then, and sat around the US$21,500 mark as of February 2025. The EV story has led to increased cobalt supply, meaning that there will be short-term price pressures due to oversupply as demand continues to rise in the coming years.
Most cobalt production takes place in the DRC, which is known for artisanal mining. Artisanal miners are adults and children who are not employed by mining companies, but mine independently using their own tools or just their hands.
A 2023 ABC news report on the country's artisanal mining industry estimates that 200,000 artisanal miners are working on cobalt deposits; unfortunately, a lack of oversight and safety measures means injuries and death are more frequent than in regulated mining. While organizations are working to keep the supply chain transparent, it is hard to fully avoid cobalt that is sourced through child labor and human rights abuses.
Other countries are not exempt from concerns related to mining cobalt — Indonesia's burgeoning cobalt production comes with the vast environmental concerns that plague the nation's nickel industry.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Cobalt is a critical material for the energy transition, with increased demand in recent years due to its essential role in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage and other technologies.
Cobalt is an important component in the popular nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery. Despite the existence of cobalt-free lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries and the potential for disruptive new battery technologies, demand for cobalt is expected to rise and market watchers are keen to find out where it may be mined in the future.
That’s why it’s important to review cobalt reserves, which is how much economically mineable cobalt a country holds. By keeping an eye on these numbers, it’s possible to guess which countries may become — or continue to be — cobalt powerhouses.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the leader in cobalt output, producing nearly two-thirds of the world’s cobalt. However, the dominance of Chinese refining and processing — estimated at 75 percent of global capacity — poses challenges for Western nations, particularly the European Union (EU), which is striving for strategic autonomy in critical minerals.
Efforts like the 2023 EU Battery Regulation aim to address these issues by mandating recycled material targets for batteries, but the path to reducing dependency on China remains complex.
In recent years cobalt production globally has reached record highs, creating a large supply glut. This cobalt surplus underscores a paradox in the market: while demand for the metal is forecast to grow significantly, oversupply has caused prices to plummet. The surge in production, largely fueled by the DRC’s expanding output and China’s vertically integrated supply chain, has led to a market imbalance.
Despite these hurdles, market watchers remain optimistic about cobalt’s long-term outlook, driven by continued demand for EVs and energy storage.
Understanding cobalt reserves and identifying key production regions is crucial for investors and industry stakeholders. Here’s an updated look at cobalt reserves by country using the latest data from the US Geological Survey.
Cobalt reserves: 6,000,000 metric tons
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the country with the largest cobalt reserves by far, with 6,000,000 metric tons (MT) of the battery metal in the ground. The world’s largest cobalt producer continues to maintain its spot at the top of the rankings, producing over 70 percent of the global cobalt supply and influencing the whole EV battery industry.
With this stature comes the DRC’s share of both internal and external turmoil. Cobalt mining in the DRC has been linked to human rights abuses and child labor due to widespread unregulated artisanal mining, which remains a key livelihood for many.
Efforts to regulate the sector include the ASM Cobalt Standard, approved in 2022, with pilot site assessments underway in collaboration with the Responsible Minerals Initiative and Global Battery Alliance.
Many of the DRC's regulated cobalt mines are joint ventures between foreign companies, such as Swiss mining giant Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF), and the country's state-owned mining companies. China's role in the DRC's mining industry continues to grow, as many of the cobalt mines in the DRC are joint ventures with Chinese companies. Much of this cobalt is processed in China, with the country processing 65 percent of all cobalt worldwide, diminishing the DRC’s agency over its minerals.
Cobalt reserves: 1,700,000 metric tons
Australia retains its position as the second-largest holder of global cobalt reserves, with an estimated 1.7 million metric tons, accounting for about 15.5 percent of the world’s total.
Despite contributing only 2 percent of global cobalt production, the country is emerging as a key player, bolstered by ethical and environmentally sustainable mining practices that stand in contrast to the DRC.
Ardea Resources (ASX:ARL) is leading the charge with its Kalgoorlie nickel-cobalt project, described as the largest nickel-cobalt resource in the developed world. Located in Western Australia, the Goongarrie Hub deposit, part of this project, has proven reserves to support a 40 year mining operation, with annual production targets of 2,000 metric tons of cobalt and 30,000 metric tons of nickel.
Cobalt Blue Holdings (ASX:COB), another prominent player, is spearheading the Broken Hill cobalt mine and Kwinana refinery. The refinery is planned to produce battery-grade cobalt sulfate from third party feedstock and cobalt from Broken Hill. Despite the ongoing slump in cobalt prices, the company is strategically positioning itself to align with US and European policies aimed at reducing reliance on China.
Cobalt reserves: 640,000 metric tons
Indonesia holds 640,000 metric tons of cobalt reserves and has rapidly ascended as a significant cobalt producer. In just three years, the nation increased its cobalt production over tenfold, reaching 28,000 metric tons in 2024, up from only 2,700 metric tons in 2021.
This growth is primarily driven by Chinese-backed investments in high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) facilities, established after Indonesia banned nickel ore exports in 2019 to bolster its domestic EV supply chain. Key players in Indonesia’s cobalt sector operate four HPAL facilities, which process nickel laterite ore into mixed hydroxide precipitate, containing both nickel and cobalt.
However, HPAL methods have drawn criticism for their environmental impact, producing high emissions and waste and raising worker safety concerns. Fatal accidents and worker protests over conditions have been reported, prompting calls for improved standards. In response, in 2023, then-President Joko Widodo committed to stricter environmental regulations, including banning the dumping of tailings into the sea and mandating renewable energy for new smelters.
New President Prabowo Subianto created a task force to focus on domestic investment in downstream nickel processing, which is currently about 75 percent controlled by Chinese firms.
Indonesia's trajectory as a cobalt supplier could diversify global markets. By 2030, Indonesia's cobalt production could constitute 16 percent of global output, according to the Cobalt Institute.
The DRC, Australia and Indonesia have the highest cobalt reserves, but many other countries also hold significant cobalt reserves. Here’s a quick look at where other nations stand:
According to the US Geological Survey, the total world reserves figure for cobalt sits at 11,000,000 MT.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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