RE:Slow progress because ofEven with thristing, demand soon to outstrip supply.
Cobalt demand forecasts
"Almost all industry experts agree cobalt will be needed in future lithium-ion batteries and in increasing volumes. Industry expert Benchmark Minerals say cobalt demand will outstrip the decline from cobalt thrifting. Experts agree cobalt thrifting will reduce the amount of cobalt in a 100% battery electric vehicle (BEV) from around 20-33kgs (NMC 1:1:1 chemistry) to around 8-12kgs cobalt (NMC 6:2:2 chemistry) over the next 5-10 years. Tesla’s low cobalt NCA battery is alleged to have as little as 6kgs cobalt, but as we know Tesla’s have also had several issues with battery fires. Most large car OEMs will not want to risk large scale battery recalls and fire risk, and hence will go with NMC 6:2:2, and possibly in some cases NMC 8:1:1."
First Cobalt sitting in the catbird seat in terms of first cobalt refining and next cobalt mining.
https://www.globalenergymetals.com/cobalt/cobalt-demand/