eCobalt Solutions Inc. (TSXV:ECS) is working on the Idaho Cobalt Project (ICP) and is making progress in producing a clean cobalt concentrate product – meaning a cobalt with low arsenic content – that could reduce the operating cost of its Cobalt Production Facility (CPF). This could significantly help with the economics of the ICP.
Paul Farquharson, President and CEO of eCobalt, said, “Consolidation of battery materials manufacturing in China to decrease cost and increase production capacity has reduced the premium in the price of cobalt sulphate over cobalt metal. Due to these changing battery market dynamics, and in response to discussions with numerous potential offtake parties, the Company has determined that delivering a clean cobalt concentrate product is the fastest route to production, generation of cash-flows and reduction of price and technical risk to the project.
“A clean cobalt concentrate is an upstream material for battery cathodes compared to cobalt sulphate which would eliminate the requirement to build a full CPF, as reported in the September 27, 2017, Feasibility Study, which is expected to result in substantially reduced capital and operating cost for a more simplified flow sheet. The significant incremental capital investment required to build a full CPF is not supported by the forecast price differential between cobalt concentrate and cobalt sulphate. Initial offtake terms received have indicated attractive pricing for the ICP’s clean cobalt concentrate product due to the product’s unique high cobalt content and medium to long-term cobalt supply constraints resulting in a considerable improvement in project economics.
“We are very excited about this new path as it further de-risks the project and has the potential to significantly decrease total capital requirements. The Company’s original project initiation timeline is not altered.
“Urgency among OEMs’ to secure cobalt supply has driven the price of cobalt to US$30 per lb. which drives the desire for the ICP to achieve early production to deliver optimal value to its shareholders.”
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