Cobalt is an important industrial metal used in many processes around the world. In fact, it is the third most important metal used in the modern world after aluminum and copper. Many different industries use cobalt as a key component to make other products and it has become a key component of green technologies. These include batteries, lubricants, construction materials, electronics, greases and so on. The number of applications for cobalt only increases year after year due to new technological developments and rising demand for this mineral particularly within the EV market. But how do colbalt mining companies impact the environment? And what impact does this have on humanity? Let’s take a look at what we know so far about cobalt mining companies and the impact on of colbalt mining on the environment and humanity.
What is Cobalt?
Cobalt is one of the rarest and most expensive minerals in the world. It is a part of the minerals called “burgundy red cobalt minerals” that occur in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. Now, this organic-inorganic mineral is a common constituent of many different minerals. It is used in the production of lithium-ion batteries and other modern technologies. The production of cobalt is not limited to one location in the world. Instead, it takes place in different parts of the world depending on demand.
How Is Cobalt Mined?
Cobalt is mostly mined through “artisanal” mining. That is to say, it is extracted by hand from the mines. The mining process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is quite complicated and involves many different steps.
In the first step, the mine workers use a sieve to separate the iron-rich minerals from the cobalt-rich minerals. The cobalt-rich minerals are called “gangue minerals” and are usually left at the bottom of the mine. In the next step, the cobalt-rich minerals are separated from the gangue minerals using a centrifuge. This is followed by washing and drying of the minerals to remove any impurities. This process is called “drying and smelting.”
The cobalt-rich minerals are then heated to 1073°C or 1,573°F to change their chemical structure to make them more useful. This process is called “calcination.” The calcined cobalt minerals are then screened to remove any impurities. This process is called “concentration.” Finally, the cobalt-rich minerals are then sent to a refinery to be purified and converted into the desired product. This process is called “purification.”
Cobalt Mining Companies and Their Environmental Impact
Mining cobalt is a complicated process that involves many different steps. In addition, the mining process for cobalt is different from other metals like copper and iron because it is done in the open air. These factors make the environmental impact of cobalt mining very complex.
The first thing to consider is the impact of the different steps in the mining process on the environment. The calcination of the mineral and the purification process are the processes that produce the most pollution. In fact, there is particular cause for concern regarding the environmental impact of smelting and calcination because of the emission of large amounts of carbon dioxide.
The next thing to consider is the impact of the transportation of the mineral. Many minerals are transported by rail, but cobalt is transported by truck. This means that the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the transportation are added to the impact of the smelting and calcination process. In addition, the mining process for cobalt requires a lot of water. This means that the impact of the mining on water resources needs to be considered too.
Last but not least, cobalt mining can lead to significant loss of biodiversity. The mining process often involves the removal of large areas of land, which can lead to the destruction of habitats and ecosystems. This can lead to the displacement of native plant and animal species, and can also disrupt the delicate balance of an ecosystem.
In addition, mining can cause soil erosion and can lead to water pollution, which can have a negative impact on aquatic life. The use of chemicals in the mining process can also have a toxic effect on local flora and fauna.
The loss of biodiversity can also have ripple effects on other ecosystem services, such as pollination, pest control, and carbon sequestration, which can in turn affect human well-being and the functioning of the ecosystem.
Cobalt Mining Companies and Their Impact on Humanity
Colbalt Mining and Greenwashing
Cobalt mining can be considered “greenwashing” because companies may make claims about the sustainability or responsible sourcing of their cobalt, but these claims may not be fully supported by their actual practices. For example, a company may claim to have a “conflict-free” supply chain for cobalt, but this does not necessarily mean that the cobalt was not mined using child or forced labour, or that the mining did not have negative environmental impacts. Additionally, the term “greenwashing” refers to the practice of companies making misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of their products or practices in order to appeal to consumers who are concerned about the environment. This is particularly rife within the green energy sector and p-particularly within the EV market. This is why it is important to take a closer look at the companies’ actual practices, and to ask more questions about their supply chain before buying products that use cobalt.
List of Colbat Mining Companies
There are several companies that are involved in cobalt mining, some of the major ones include:
- Glencore: is a Swiss multinational commodity trading and mining company and one of the world’s largest cobalt producers.
- Freeport-McMoRan: is an American multinational mining corporation and one of the world’s largest producers of copper, molybdenum, gold, and cobalt.
- Huayou Cobalt: is a Chinese company that is one of the world’s largest cobalt producers and processors.
- China Molybdenum: is a Chinese state-owned enterprise and one of the world’s largest producers of molybdenum and cobalt.
- Sherritt International: is a Canadian mining company and one of the world’s largest producers of nickel and cobalt.
It is worth noting that many of these companies also produce other metals and minerals, and cobalt mining is just a small part of their overall operations. Also, many of these companies have been reported to be involved in unethical practices such as environmental degradation, human rights violations, and labour issues.
Despite the above, what is interesting to note from our data is how little cobalt mining is reported on in the media, with plenty of companies who are connected to cobalt mining missing from the entire sentiment landscape.
There are many companies that use cobalt in their products, particularly in the technology and automotive industries. Some of the major companies that use cobalt include:
- Apple: uses cobalt in the batteries of its iPhones and other devices.
- Samsung: uses cobalt in the batteries of its smartphones and other electronics.
- Tesla: uses cobalt in the batteries of its electric cars.
- LG Chem: is one of the world’s largest suppliers of lithium-ion batteries, which use cobalt.
- Panasonic: uses cobalt in the batteries of its electronic devices, including laptops and cameras.
- General Motors: uses cobalt in the batteries of its electric vehicles.
- Volkswagen: uses cobalt in the batteries of its electric vehicles.
- BMW: uses cobalt in the batteries of its electric vehicles.
It is worth noting that some of these companies are taking steps to reduce their use of cobalt and to source it responsibly, due to the aforementioned ethical and environmental concerns surrounding the mining of cobalt. However, much more progress is yet to be made in these areas.
Conclusion
Cobalt is one of the most important metals used in modern technologies making it one of the biggest dirty secrets of the so-called green energy sector. It is mostly used in batteries, capacitors, blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and a variety of other items. The mining of cobalt is a highly energy-intensive process which means the environment is vulnerable to pollution as well as risks being post to humanity.
Although cobalt mining can not be banned outright, as it is an important metal that is used in many industries and products, the mining of cobalt should be heavily regulated and urgent steps should be taken to expose and mitigate its negative impacts outlined in this article.
