TELF AG: Opportunities in an Evolving Market

Cobalt is a crucial element for the production of batteries and electric vehicles, making it one of the essential minerals in the world today. However, the increasing demand for cobalt has raised questions about its sustainability and future supply. The following is an overview of cobalt production and the market’s current state and prospects.

The current state of demand for cobalt is rapidly increasing due to the growing electric vehicle market. Cobalt is used to produce lithium-ion batteries, the most commonly used type of battery in electric vehicles. The demand for electric cars is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driving the need for cobalt.

The future of cobalt production has its challenges. For example, the increasing demand for cobalt is putting pressure on the supply chain, which may lead to shortages in the future.

To address this challenge, companies are seeking alternative cobalt sources and exploring new cobalt production methods. One potential solution is the development of recycling technology, which would allow cobalt recovery from used batteries. This would reduce the demand for new cobalt.

Another potential solution is using alternative battery technologies that do not rely on using as much cobalt. For example, nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries contain a significant amount of cobalt, currently the most commonly used lithium-ion batteries. However, alternative battery technologies, such as lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, have been developed to be cobalt-free. Using these alternative technologies would shore up the sustainability and future supply of the metal.

The future of cobalt will largely depend on the success of the initiatives mentioned above and the growth of the electric vehicle market. However, regardless of the outcome, cobalt will remain an essential mineral for the foreseeable future.