Name of the Project
Idaho cobalt project (ICP).

Location
The project is located in East Central Idaho, in the historic Idaho cobalt belt, in the US.

Client
eCobalt Solutions.

Project Description
The ICP will be a vertically integrated project designed to produce cobalt chemicals for the rechargeable batteries market in addition to by-products of copper concentrate, copper sulphate, magnesium sulphate and gold.

The project is based on an underground mine with a target production rate of 1 200 t/d, compared with 800 t/d in the previous mine plan.

Additionally, a cobalt production facility, a hydrometallurgical refining operation located on a railhead in Blackfoot, Idaho, is expected to be built.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at a 7.5% discount rate, of $176.9-million and an internal rate of return of 25.1%, with a payback of 2.9 years.

Value
Initial capital costs have been estimated at $186.7-million.

Duration
The project has a preproduction period of 24 months.

Latest Developments
eCobalt Solutions has identified the potential to increase the targeted production rate at its Idaho cobalt project to 1 200 t/d from the previously planned 800 t/d.

The 50% increase in expected production within the updated mine plan should create more resilient project economics that can withstand the volatility of the cobalt market.

Additionally, a larger and more robust plan will further elevate the company’s position in the cobalt market, the company has said.

The company investigated the work that was in progress on the project’s feasibility study and rigorously tested all the assumptions to determine whether a larger and stronger plan could be developed.

The result of this work demonstrated that the incremental cost of retrofitting the mill to process more tonnage is supported by considerably stronger economies of scale, while having no expected impact on the approved plan of operations.

“This plan would allow us to produce more cobalt earlier, thereby increasing cash flows early in the mine life, improving payback and overall project economics,” eCobalt president and CEO Michael Callahan has said.

eCobalt is working with Micon International to finalise the feasibility-level study for the 1 200 t/d mine plan.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Expert Processing Solutions (bench scale testing) and Hazen Research (pilot-level testing)

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
eCobalt Solutions, tel +1 604 682 6229 or email inform@eCobalt.com.