Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB, OTC:CBBHF) is playing an important role in continuing Broken Hill's legacy of mining innovation first established when one of the world’s most important mineral deposits was discovered there in 1883.
Broken Hill’s status as an iconic Australian mining centre has been built on its rich geology and a credentialed silver-lead and zinc mining history that has made many innovative contributions to the development of mining around the world.
Today, Cobalt Blue is continuing the legacy of innovation with much of its three-pronged critical minerals strategy centred on Broken Hill.
Processing technology
The flagship Broken Hill Cobalt Project is just west of the town while the company’s proprietary processing technology was pioneered and is being enhanced at its Technology Development Centre in the Far West New South Wales ‘capital’.
READ: Cobalt Blue processing technology offers potential solution to sulphuric acid shortage
This technology will be the linchpin for a Cobalt-Nickel Sulphate Refinery, which the company aims to build in Kwinana, Western Australia, and is the centrepiece of the third prong in COB’s strategy – an initiative called ReMine+.
COB’s strategy, incorporating its patented technology, will address the growing demand for critical minerals essential for the global energy transition. The optimised metallurgical processes are at the forefront of the industry.
Turning waste into resource
ReMine+ is again demonstrating Broken Hill’s ability to influence mining on a global scale.
READ: Cobalt Blue transforming mine waste problem into ReMine+ solution
The initiative, which is headed up by COB’s business development manager Dr Helen Degeling, offers groundbreaking technology born from more than seven years of research and development at the Technology Development Centre in Broken Hill.
By applying advanced metallurgical techniques, ReMine+ extracts valuable critical metals and sulphur from discarded mine waste, offering a sustainable solution to address the billions of tonnes of waste stored in tailings facilities worldwide.
The innovative process not only reduces the environmental impact of potentially hazardous sulphides in mine tailings, it also recovers critical minerals essential for the energy transition.
"Cobalt Blue is committed to taking ReMine+ and the technology we have developed in Broken Hill to the world,” Dr Degeling said.
Global interest
"ReMine+ is effective and scalable and we are excited about the interest we are already receiving from governments and the mining industry across several jurisdictions.
"Our test work programs assessing waste facilities in Australia and Canada have provided further evidence of our capability.
"It’s exciting to know that our team in Broken Hill are the first in the world to be hands-on with this process, which is ready to create a huge impact on the circular mining economy.”
Refinery plan
As part of its critical minerals focus, COB has identified a significant market opportunity for the Cobalt-Nickel Sulphate Refinery planned for Western Australia.
The company’s proprietary technology offers the potential for reduced capital and operating costs compared to traditional refining methods.
READ: Cobalt Blue appoints global engineering leader Tetra Tech for Cobalt-Nickel Refinery
Importantly, as COB will purchase feedstock from third parties at prices linked to the prevailing metal index and selling onward at an appropriate margin, it can secure stable revenue streams.
Executive manager Dr Andrew Tong presents the strategic opportunity in more detail in this video.
“At the forefront”
"We are at the forefront of mineral processing innovation, with a vision to apply that innovation to non-traditional opportunities,” Dr Degeling added.
"Our goal is ethically sourced battery metals for a sustainable world. Our approach is to find value in waste, hand-in-hand with nature-positive outcomes."