Cobalt consumers face a constrained set of options for securing cobalt supplies.
Australia currently exports the majority of its cobalt (and other critical minerals) in unprocessed form, limiting domestic value capture.
The Kwinana Cobalt Refinery is intended to address this gap by establishing onshore processing capacity that supports the export of refined products into premium international markets.
The project is expected to contribute to:
More diversified and resilient global battery supply chains
Reduced reliance on offshore refining capacity
Long-term alignment with national and international critical minerals strategies
Advancing KCR in the near term strengthens domestic refining capability and de-risks upstream mining projects through a versatile, multi-feedstock facility. Recent technical milestones and successful product qualification have also validated the refinery’s design, attracted interest from international partners, and reinforced the project’s pathway toward development.