Glencore to halt production at world’s biggest cobalt mine after price halves
Glencore is planning to stop production at the world’s largest cobalt mine after prices for the metal plummeted.
The miner has told staff that Congo’s Mutanda mine is “no longer economically viable” in a letter seen by the Financial Times.
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Glencore also took aim at new regulations in Congo, which hiked taxes and removed exemptions for mines that were already operating.
They were signed into law last June.
“Unfortunately due to the significant decrease in the cobalt price, increased inflation across some of our key input costs (mainly sulphuric acid) and the additional taxes imposed by the mining code the mine is no longer economically viable over the long-term,” the letter said.
Glencore declined to comment, but the company may expand on the decision in its half-year report, due out tomorrow.
Read more: Glencore head of oil Alex Beard retires amid US investigations
Cobalt is a vital component in batteries, setting it up to be one of the world’s most important commodities as electric vehicles take off.
Last week Glencore said that it will take a $350m hit after the price of cobalt halved. It has begun an overhaul of its African business.