U.S. Plans to Bypass China’s Cobalt Dominance with Arizona Plant

FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

The Singapore-based commodities trader Trafigura announced it will partner with the U.S. battery metals processing firm EVelution to build a battery-grade cobalt sulfate processing facility in Arizona. 

The facility is projected to produce 7,000 tons of cobalt sulfate by 2027, an estimated 40% of the projected demand. The deal comes as the U.S.Department of Energy allocated $2.8 billion to help about twenty American firms delink their battery supply chains from China. 

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