METALS & MINERALS

Cobalt

Glencore is one of the world’s leading industrial producers and marketers of cobalt, a metal expected to become one of the most important raw materials in the transition towards a low-carbon economy due to its use in rechargeable batteries and renewable energy technologies.

We extract and process cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Australia, Canada, and Norway, mainly as a by-product of copper mining, but also as a by-product of nickel mining.

As a recycler of cobalt-containing materials, we are closing the loop of the circular value chain. With our activities, we help meet the growing demand for this important metal.

Cobalt in figures - 2023

  • 41.3 kt

    of cobalt produced at our assets

Uses of cobalt

Today’s rechargeable batteries powering devices such as cameras, mobile phones, and laptops often rely on cobalt to help regulate their batteries' temperature. This helps to make them safer, last longer and store more power. 

These qualities make cobalt attractive for use in larger batteries of renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles.

Cobalt also finds applications in medical imaging technologies, and, as a superalloy, is used in aircraft engines and in hard metals used as sharp cutting edges or for drilling.

Cobalt assets

Cobalt is mainly produced as a by-product at assets that produce copper or nickel.

  • Kamoto Copper Company

    DRC

    KCC (75%) is a large-scale copper–cobalt operation in the country’s Lualaba province, producing cobalt hydroxide and copper cathodes.
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  • Mutanda Mining (copper)

    DRC

    Mutanda is a copper and cobalt operation, also in Lualaba province, producing cobalt hydroxide and copper cathodes.
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  • Murrin Murrin (nickel)

    Murrin Murrin is a nickel–cobalt operation in the north-eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, producing refined nickel and cobalt metal.
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  • Nikkelverk

    Norway

    Located in Kristiansand, Nikkelverk is the largest nickel refinery in the western world and produces high-quality cobalt and copper cathodes.
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  • Raglan Mine (nickel)

    Canada

    Raglan Mine is one of the richest base-metal mines in the world – located in the Arctic region at the extreme limit of northern Quebec.
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  • Sudbury INO (nickel)

    Canada

    Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations are located in the Sudbury basin, northern Ontario, Canada. Nickel–copper ores have been mined there since 1928. The operations also include the Sudbury smelter.
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