Speaking at the company’s AGM this morning, Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited chair Robert Biancardi outlined the company’s highlights of the past twelve months.
Looking back on FY24, Biancardi laid out Cobalt Blue’s business milestones as follows:
Iwatani Corporation partnership
During the year, COB named Iwatani Corporation as its potential partner in developing both the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery (KCR) and Broken Hill Cobalt Project (BHCP).
Iwatani is a leading Japanese multinational company specialising in the production and trading of commodities. It has established partnerships with companies worldwide to further advance its expertise in technologies and explore new markets.
Iwatani Australia Pty Ltd owns a suitable property in the Kwinana district that would support the operation of the Refinery, which COB believes will substantially reduce development time for the project.
Kwinana cobalt refinery feasibility study
COB delivered a KCR Feasibility Study. Kwinana is a proposed large-scale, cobalt-nickel operation representing Australia’s first cobalt refinery that will produce high-quality, battery-grade cobalt sulphate.
It will be among the first large-scale Allied Nations investment in cobalt refining for decades.
The refinery is expected to establish COB as an early entrant into the emerging midstream segment and a gateway for (Australian targeted) cobalt to high-growth electric vehicle markets within the EU and the US.
Samples trialled
During the year Cobalt Blue successfully trialled two five-tonne samples and has now received a third large scale sample.
These feedstocks represent longer term sample options for the refinery project. Stage 1 targets processing third-party feedstock with a capacity of 3,000 tpa cobalt sulphate (metal equivalent) and 1,000 tpa nickel metal.
Premier of WA’s support
Cobalt Blue received the direct support of the Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook MLA, where the Premier noted the close alignment of the proposed Refinery with Western Australia’s Battery and Critical Minerals Strategy and the Diversify WA Economic Development Framework.
The Premier stated the Refinery would “further establish Western Australia as a national battery material production hub, enhancing the processing capability of critical minerals and growing international linkages to the battery material supply chain”.
BHCP Demonstration Plant
The BHCP Demonstration Plant continued successful operations during the year, targeting large-scale continuous runs supporting BHCP. Operations produced Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) from the Pyrite Hill bulk sample. A range of samples was produced; supporting small-scale analysis to larger volumes required to evaluate equipment selection and design.
Strategic review
Given battery minerals pricing, particularly cobalt metal trading at US$12-14/lb, and the current inflated capital cost environment, the BHCP Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) was paused during Q1 2024. The COB Board concluded that the BHCP (in its current form) was unlikely to attract project financing.
Rather than deliver a DFS that effectively “sits on the shelf”, waiting for a future upturn in the macro environment, the COB Board requested management to undertake a review to assess the viability of a condensed higher margin project.
The review will likely make substantial use of the extensive library of technical studies, reports and other work undertaken for the DFS.
Remine+ Cobalt in Waste Streams
Cobalt Blue's Cobalt in Waste Streams business unit was rebranded “Remine+” to broaden its scope beyond a single metal focus.
Led by its Remine+ business unit, COB announced a partnership with Regeneration Enterprises to commercialise and restore global mine waste deposits.
Regeneration seeks to enable biodiversity, community and production of climate positive minerals for the energy transition, green technologies and sustainable brands through re-mining, reprocessing and restoration of old and existing mine sites.
International progress
Internationally, Cobalt Blue progressed with test work of samples provided by Hudbay Minerals Inc (NYSE:HBM) with respect to their Flin Flon tailings storage facility located in the Province of Manitoba, Canada.
COB has agreed to use its proprietary minerals processing technology to assess its ability to recover gold, silver, copper, zinc, cobalt and sulphur from a pyrite/pyrrhotite concentrate produced from the tailings.
Laboratory scale ‘proof-of-concept’ testwork was completed including flotation, thermal decomposition of pyrite and leaching of kiln calcine.
The overall results achieved a more than 90% conversion of the pyrite into pyrrhotite and elemental sulphur. These results will be used to design an overall flowsheet for the treatment of the tailings.
A positive outlook
The company remains positive about the cobalt market outlook and believes that a more balanced market lies ahead.
Australia has more than 16% of global cobalt resources but produces only 6% of supply.
There is little doubt that COB has have plenty of potential, particularly considering its stable jurisdiction and ethical credentials. COB says it looks forward to closing this cobalt gap.