Critical Mineral Deep Dive: Cobalt

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the role of cobalt as a critical mineral for the clean energy transition, detailing its applications in lithium-ion batteries, global distribution of reserves and production, and the significant human rights and environmental impacts associated with its extraction, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• Cobalt is essential for the clean energy transition, primarily used in the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and electronics due to its stability and energy density. The U.S. Department of Energy expects the share of cobalt demand from electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems to rise from 71% in 2025 to 93% by 2035, with overall demand for clean energy technologies increasing by 80% between 2025 and 2030.
• Global cobalt reserves and production are highly concentrated. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) holds 52.8% of known reserves and accounts for approximately 76% of global production. Processing is dominated by China, which refines 50% to 70% of global supplies; China, Finland, and Indonesia together control about 89% of global refining.
• The United States relies on imports for 76% of its cobalt, sourcing primarily from Canada, Finland, Japan, and Norway. While identified resources exist in fourteen states, primarily Minnesota, domestic production is limited. The only cobalt-specific mine in the U.S., located in Idaho, closed in 2024 due to low prices.
• Cobalt extraction is linked to severe human rights abuses and environmental degradation, especially in the DRC, where artisanal and small-scale mining accounts for 15% to 30% of production. Reported violations include child labor, child trafficking, and forced labor. Environmentally, mining caused the loss of 32,100 acres of the Congo Basin forest between 2001 and 2020.
• Recycling and substitution are being explored to reduce the reliance on primary mining. Recycling can lower the need for new mines by 40% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%; in 2024, scrap represented 25% of U.S. cobalt consumption. Alternatives include iron-phosphate, though it has half the energy density of cobalt, and an organic small molecule called TAQ developed by MIT researchers.

APA

Gries, L. (2026). Critical Mineral Deep Dive: Cobalt. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-critical-mineral-deep-dive-cobalt

Chicago

Gries, Laura. Critical Mineral Deep Dive: Cobalt. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2026. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-critical-mineral-deep-dive-cobalt.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gries |first1=Laura |title=Critical Mineral Deep Dive: Cobalt |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=12 June 2026 |url=https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-critical-mineral-deep-dive-cobalt |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gries2026critical, author = {Gries, Laura}, title = {{Critical Mineral Deep Dive: Cobalt}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-critical-mineral-deep-dive-cobalt}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }