Third place isn’t usually where people strive to be.
If you’re lucky, it’s bronze, which means you still get to stand on the lowest part of the pedestal.
There are, of course, exceptions to every rule.
The case of cobalt, the “blue gold” that the energy industry is desperately scrambling to get more of, is a bit of a tricky one.
In the search for supply, could third place be the best we’ve got?
The Top Cobalt Contenders
According to the United States Geological Survey, the top three cobalt producers in the world as of 2016 were:
- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- China
- Canada
It may not be readily apparent what the problems with this list are.
Especially if you aren’t aware of the promises made years ago by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
From the start, Musk has stated that all Tesla vehicle components such as lithium and cobalt would be sourced first and foremost from North American producers.
Failing that, outside sources of these metals would need to be ethically mined.
This offered investors a conundrum.
First, because the U.S. is not one of the top three producers of either cobalt or lithium.
Second, because finding ethically mined battery supplies is harder than it sounds.
The DRC, for instance, is notoriously unethical in its mining practices. In fact, a large part of its cobalt supplies are purportedly mined using child labor, a practice Elon Musk has said he wants kept as far away from his production line as possible.
The problem is that the majority of the world’s cobalt comes from this country.
In 2016, it produced over 66,000 tons, more than half of the world’s total.
To put that in perspective, the second-largest producer, China, only produced 7,700 tons.
That’s one hell of a stretch between first and second place.
Still, China isn’t Musk’s only choice for a cobalt supplier, either.
Even though it’s the largest source of U.S. cobalt imports, China already has plans for much of its growing supply.
Any increase in cobalt or lithium production from this country will likely go to domestic battery production first, especially since China is planning at least four of its own Gigafactories to match Tesla’s in Nevada.
Source: Visual Capitalist
By 2020, the country is expected to expand to more than six times its 2016 battery production capacity.
And so that leaves Tesla with the best prospects coming out of our third-place contender: Canada.
At 7,300 tons for the year, our neighbors to the north are trailing right behind China in production.
The town of Cobalt, Ontario, is also a notable source of this unique metal and is one of the few places in the world where cobalt is mined as a primary resource rather than as a by-product.
It’s a no-brainer!
But back to the original question… is it really the best we’ve got?
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The Cobalt Is Coming from Inside the House
As I pointed out before, the U.S. isn’t among the top producers of cobalt.
In fact, it’s at the bottom of the USGS list, with just 690 tons produced in 2016 and only 21,000 tons in total reserves (Canada has 270,000 tons; the DRC has 3.4 million tons).
Yet it’s right here at home that the best investment potential lies.
Much like the situation with lithium, the U.S. is a small producer of cobalt… but the sudden rush of orders for the metal has incentivized new projects to come online.
Tesla is still looking to give U.S. producers preferential deals.
And one producer in particular is taking it up on that offer before anyone else.
This company has been developing its cobalt project for years and will finally be in production just in time to provide Tesla’s Gigafactory with the battery component it needs more than any other.
And that’s not the last ace it’s got up its sleeve…
Check out the story behind this company’s unique advantage right here.
Until next time,
Megan Dailey
@energyandcapitaMegan Dailey is a fresh young face on the investment scene. In her years as a research analyst with Angel Publishing, she’s learned that adapting fast to new investment situations is critically important to successfully navigating today’s volatile market. Her research has helped individual investors identify fast-growing companies in the energy industry that pay actionable investors back in spades. In an age of boundless information, her research is razor-focused on the most lucrative opportunities in energy and beyond. Megan’s research can be found in her weekly editorials on the Energy and Capital site. She also manages the Energy and Capital social media, and is always ready to answer your questions about energy investments via Facebook or Twitter!
