Cobalt Institute

#CobaltInsights: Why is now the time to engage with artisanal and small-scale mining? Watch David Sturmes-Verbeek, Co-founder and Director of Congo Gateway, Ad Maiora Africa and The Impact Facility, discuss why evolving regulation in the DRC is creating new opportunities for responsible investment in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). As David explains, ASM has historically acted as swing supply in the cobalt market. But recent regulatory reform, alongside the evolving role of Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) - the DRC state-owned company responsible for formalising and regulating ASM cobalt supply - is beginning to change the landscape. Through EGC’s sourcing framework, investors can now engage with clearer minimum expectations aligned with OECD due diligence guidance, creating new pathways to support more resilient and responsible ASM supply chains. As David argues, the opportunity to engage with the ASM sector is now. 💬 Have a question about cobalt? Drop it in the comments. 🔎 Follow us: Cobalt Institute #CobaltInsights #Cobalt #CriticalMinerals #ResponsibleSourcing #ASM

#CobaltInsights: What does resilience mean in critical raw materials policy? Watch Peter Handley, Founder of Phase 32, explain why resilience starts with understanding where supply chains are most vulnerable. As Peter notes, building resilience means reducing reliance on single sources, diversifying supply and investing in responsibly sourced critical raw materials. For companies, that starts with analysing supply chains to identify potential points of exposure - including whether dependence on one supplier, region or route could put operations at risk. In a world where supply chains are more vulnerable than ever, resilience requires action: investing time and resources in building greater breadth and depth of supply. 💬 Have a question about cobalt? Drop it in the comments. 🔎 Follow us: Cobalt Institute #CobaltInsights #Cobalt #CriticalMinerals #SupplyChains #ResponsibleSourcing

#CobaltInsights: Why does refining capacity matter for cobalt supply chains? Watch Andrew Tong, CEO and Managing Director of Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd, discuss how new refining capacity in Australia could help strengthen and diversify global cobalt supply chains. Cobalt Blue is planning to develop Australia’s first cobalt sulphate refinery, located in Perth. As Andrew explains, the project could play an important role in connecting cobalt supply from the DRC with key Asian markets, including Japan and Korea, while also supporting the longer-term development of Australia’s own cobalt resources. Australia has significant cobalt reserves, but limited dedicated refining capacity. By creating a route to process cobalt domestically, the refinery could help unlock future mine supply and support more resilient pathways for responsible cobalt production. As critical minerals supply chains continue to evolve, projects like this highlight the importance of investing not only in resources, but in the infrastructure needed to bring them to market. 💬 Have a question about cobalt? Drop it in the comments. 🔎 Follow us: Cobalt Institute #CobaltInsights #Cobalt #CriticalMinerals #BatteryMaterials #SupplyChains

𝗖𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Following the US-China Summit in Washington, D.C. this week, the suspension of further tariffs and dual-use control escalations, including those affecting cobalt supply chains, has now been extended to 10 January 2027. This latest development further highlights the growing importance of cobalt and critical minerals on the global policy agenda. This week, CI has been in Washington engaging with US policymakers on the importance of cobalt and resilient critical mineral supply chains for the US economy, energy security, technology, national security and defence. 🎥 Watch Mike Blakeney, Head of Government and Public Affairs at the Cobalt Institute, reporting from Washington, D.C. on the latest developments following yesterday’s US-China summit. #CobaltFacts #CobaltInsights

#CobaltInsights: Why does cobalt’s by-product nature matter? Watch Ying L., Principal Analyst at Project Blue, explain why cobalt costs and availability cannot be understood by looking at cobalt alone. Most cobalt is produced as a by-product of copper mining in the DRC and nickel mining in Indonesia. This means cobalt supply is closely tied to the economics, policies and operating conditions of those wider markets. As Ying explains, some of the lowest-cost cobalt units come from large copper operations in the DRC - not because cobalt is inherently cheap to mine, but because copper carries much of the economics. In Indonesia, cobalt is mainly produced through nickel HPAL operations, meaning pressures on nickel ore quotas, benchmark pricing and key reagents such as sulphuric acid can also become pressures on cobalt availability. The result: cobalt may be low cost to produce, but still difficult to access. In 2026, Ying says availability will be shaped not only by cobalt demand, but also by copper prices, Indonesian nickel policy, DRC export quotas and reagent costs. 💬 Have a question about cobalt? Drop it in the comments. 🔍 Follow us: Cobalt Institute #CobaltInsights #Cobalt #CriticalMinerals #BatteryMaterials #Copper #Nickel

#CobaltInsights: Why does cobalt matter for batteries? Cobalt is in the lithium-ion batteries that power our everyday devices – from phones to laptops – and it’s also critical for the batteries driving the energy transition. In this short video, Tom Fairlie, Senior Manager for Sustainability and Batteries, explains how cobalt enhances battery durability, safety and charging speed. It helps create smaller, lighter, more energy-dense batteries - essential for meeting consumer expectations and reducing environmental impact. 💬 Got a question about cobalt? Drop it in the comments. 🔍 Follow us: Cobalt Institute #CobaltInsights #Cobalt #BatteryMetals #EnergyTransition #EVs #Sustainability #CriticalMetals