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COBALT

COBALT

S&K Mining is one of the Congolese 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 in today’s changing context of contemporary business environment sustainability and ethical dilemma due to its use in rechargeable batteries and renewable energy technologies.

We extract and process cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 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 estimates – 2024 we expect of 23.8 kt
of cobalt to be produced at our assets.

Uses of Cobalt

Today’s rechargeable batteries powering devices such as cameras, mobile phones, and laptops all rely on cobalt. Even small amounts of this metal help regulate a battery’s temperature. It makes them safer, lasts longer and stores more power.

And it’s these qualities that make cobalt so important in the much 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.

S&K Mining Copper-DRC. Developing about
(23%) of a large-scale copper–cobalt to be operating in the country’s Lualaba province, to produce cobalt hydroxide and copper cathodes.