The Metals Company, a publicly-traded company, shared exciting news on Wednesday about a groundbreaking achievement in the production of cobalt sulphate. This innovative milestone marks the world’s first creation of cobalt sulphate solely from seafloor polymetallic nodules. The process was successfully carried out through bench-scale testing of The Metals Company’s hydrometallurgical flowsheet design in collaboration with SGS Canada at their facility in Lakefield, Ontario.
The cobalt sulphate was derived from samples of nickel-cobalt-copper matte initially generated by The Metals Company in 2021 using their unique flowsheet. What makes this accomplishment even more impressive is that the high-grade cobalt sulphate was produced directly, eliminating the need to first create cobalt metal and resulting in zero solid waste or tailings. Instead, only environmentally friendly fertilizer byproducts were generated.
Dr. Jeffrey Donald, the head of onshore development at The Metals Company, expressed his excitement about this significant achievement, emphasizing the value of seafloor polymetallic nodules as a valuable resource. He highlighted that this success, following the previous production of nickel sulphate in April, is a crucial step towards establishing a responsible supply chain for essential metals needed for human advancement.
Earlier this year, The Metals Company and SGS made history by producing the world’s first nickel sulphate directly from seafloor polymetallic nodules. The nodules used in these groundbreaking experiments were collected from the Nori project located in the Clarion-Clipperton zone of the Pacific Ocean, situated between Mexico and Hawaii during 2022. Returning to the site late last year, The Metals Company conducted thorough assessments on the impact of disturbing the seafloor, focusing on plume dynamics, concentration, and dispersal. The findings revealed that the plume remains close to the seabed, influenced primarily by gravity and the underwater terrain rather than ocean currents.
Looking ahead, The Metals Company is optimistic about commencing commercial mining operations by late 2025, further solidifying their commitment to sustainable resource extraction from the ocean floor. This groundbreaking achievement not only showcases the technological advancements in deep-sea mining but also highlights the potential for seafloor polymetallic nodules to play a crucial role in meeting the growing global demand for essential metals.
