COB is shifting the focus of the Broken Hill Technology Centre (BHTC) to assess the viability of processing battery black mass as a domestic feedstock source for the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery (KCR).

November 18, 2025 -- The initiative aims to de-risk KCR’s long-term supply strategy while creating the potential for modest near-term revenue from BHTC operations.

Following the signing of a non-binding MOU with Ecobatt in December 2024, BHTC completed bench-scale testwork on black mass samples, demonstrating successful extraction of cobalt, nickel and manganese.

COB has also received a non-binding Letter of Intent from Hartree Partners – one of the world’s leading merchant commodity firms – for the potential purchase of cobalt metal from BHTC processed from black mass, indicating commercial interest in products produced from recycled feedstock.

This strategy positions COB at the forefront of Australia’s emerging circular battery materials industry. It directly supports the objectives of Australia’s Circular Economy Framework, strengthens domestic battery recycling capability, and reinforces Australia’s role as a reliable partner in the global critical minerals supply chain.

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