Published: September 11, 2020 |

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First Cobalt Corp. has taken steps to strengthen its commitment to becoming a globally competitive player in the North American electric vehicle (EV) supply chain by joining the Critical Materials Institute as a full team member. This development further underscores First Cobalt’s commitment to strengthen its environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) practices.

The Critical Materials Institute (CMI) was launched in 2013 and is a U.S. Department of Energy Innovation Hub led by the Ames National Laboratory supporting early-stage research to advance innovation in U.S. manufacturing. The CMI focuses on technologies that make better use of materials and eliminate the need for materials that are subject to supply disruptions. Cobalt and other critical materials are essential for American competitiveness in clean energy technologies, including wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient lighting.

In 2017, the U.S. Government added cobalt to a list of critical minerals and devised an action plan to specifically address supply chain issues. The U.S. is heavily reliant on foreign sources of cobalt for military and industrial applications, including electric vehicles and aerospace.

There are currently no mines in the U.S. actively producing cobalt. First Cobalt owns a permitted cobalt refinery in Canada as well as a cobalt-copper deposit in the U.S. The deposit, known as Iron Creek, is located within First Cobalt’s Idaho property, which is part of a geologic belt that collectively contains the largest cobalt resources in America.

The CMI supports research on expanding domestic supply of critical minerals. Research teams leading projects in the diversifying supply focus area are located at Ames Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Colorado School of Mines.

In joining the Critical Minerals Institute, First Cobalt also aligns with Canada’s efforts under the Canada–U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration, advancing North America’s mutual interest in securing supply chains for the critical minerals needed for important manufacturing sectors, including communication technology, aerospace and defence, and clean technology.

“We are honored to be one of the few resource-development companies to have been accepted to the CMI and the only such company focused on producing cobalt in North America. This membership greatly improves our network of companies and research facilities that share our dedication to a clean energy future. The CMI provides access to cutting edge technologies and brilliant people who are improving metal extraction processes to make them more energy efficient, less costly, and reduce the impact to the natural environment,” said Trent Mell, First Cobalt president and CEO.

First Cobalt has partnered with researchers at the Colorado School of Mines on a proposal to fund a project on improving the extraction of cobalt from ore from the Iron Creek cobalt-copper deposit in Idaho. The two-year project is aimed at modifying conventional methods of extraction to reduce the amount of waste material processed and to increase the concentration of cobalt in material to be refined. The methods to be tested will be specifically adapted to reduce energy consumption of mineral processing compared to current practices. The reduction of waste material in processing would minimize the size of tailings compounds. The project is well-aligned with First Cobalt’s commitment to provide a green and ethical supply of cobalt to the North American electric vehicle market.

About First Cobalt
First Cobalt owns North America’s only permitted cobalt refinery. Cobalt refining is a critical component in the manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles, consumer electronics and industrial applications. Cobalt is a critical mineral and forms a foundational piece of the next generation of the North American auto sector. First Cobalt also owns an advanced cobalt project in the United States and controls significant cobalt-silver mineral assets in the Canadian Cobalt Camp.

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