Chile wants to consolidate itself as the second largest producer of cobalt in the world, behind only the Democratic Republic of Congo!
With the catchy nickname of "blue gold", cobalt It is essential in technology and electric mobility and now Chile has decided to take advantage of its abundance of this metal to become a global reference. Estimates from the government and Andrés Bello University (A B) indicate that the country has the potential to produce around 15 thousand tons of cobalt per year, using innovative and sustainable techniques to mine the metal essential in the manufacture of batteries and electronic devices, according to the ign website.
What makes cobalt so special?
Cobalt is already known as “blue gold” because of its color and strategic value. It is widely used in the production of rechargeable batteries, electronics and, more recently, as one of the bases for technologies of electric mobility. In a world that is investing in less polluting transport and technologies, cobalt is practically indispensable. However, its value is not only environmental: global cobalt market grows at a rapid pace, jumping from US$8,5 billion in 2021 and projected to nearly US$25 billion by 2030.
Global leadership in cobalt extraction still lies with the Democratic Republic of Congo, which dominates the market, producing around 130 thousand tons per year. But Chile, which has extensive experience in the mining sector, is determined to increase its production and seek second place, beating Indonesia and other nations.
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The Chilean race for “blue gold”
Recent research in Chile show that the country has large volumes of cobalt in copper and nickel mining waste, especially in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions. Thus, the plan is to advance in the recovery of this metal directly from the waste. According to Pilar Parada, director of the UNAB Center for Systems Biotechnology, "Just by using cobalt in the tailings, Chile could reach second place in the worldThis ambitious goal will be possible thanks to a partnership between UNAB, the University of Chile and the Chilean National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), which together launched a project to recover cobalt from tailings using state-of-the-art biotechnology.
The proposed method is innovative and has sustainable appeal. According to Parada, the process uses bacteria to eliminate pyrite, a mineral that oxidizes in contact with water and contaminates the soil.. In this way, in addition to extracting cobalt, environmental risk is reduced and the impact of waste.
From “blue gold” to “green cobalt”
The Chilean project is not just about expanding production; it is about a vision of a sustainable future. With the application of biotechnology, the idea is for Chile to produce “green” cobalt – cobalt extracted with less environmental impact and which contributes to the country’s prosperity in a responsible manner.”We are talking about an opportunity to transform mining into something clean and with a social purpose.”, explains Parada. With about 764 mining waste deposits scattered throughout Chile, many of them located in rich areas such as Atacama and Coquimbo, the country sees a promising future for the sector.
This advance represents an important step for Chilean mining, which is already a leader in copper extraction. The country is now seeking to diversify its supply of minerals and meet the growing market for electric mobility and low-carbon technologies.