ASX-listed Cobalt Blue (COB) on Monday announced the appointment of consulting and engineering group Tetra Tech for detailed engineering works for the cobalt/nickel refinery in the Kwinana industrial area.

CEO Joe Kaderavek said that the appointment of an engineering firm was a significant milestone in developing Australia’s first cobalt sulphate refinery.

COB pointed out that Tetra Tech had significant experience in complex plant development. In Australia, the company has worked on Iluka's Eneabba project and Arafura's SX plant.

Iwatani has partnered with COB for the Kwinana refinery project and will be using the existing Doral Fused Material site in East Rockingham, Western Australia, near the Kwinana Bulk Terminal as the location for the refinery. 

In November 2023, COB published the refinery study detailing a large-scale cobalt/nickel operation representing Australia's first cobalt refinery producing a high-quality, battery-grade cobalt sulphate. Its target markets will be battery makers and electric vehicle manufacturers, which will produce US Inflation Reduction Act- and EU Critical Raw Materials Act-compliant products. 

Initially, the refinery will have a 3 000 t/y cobalt and 500 t/y nickel capacity, with a potential later expansion to 6 000 t/y cobalt and 1 000 t/y nickel.

COB aims to announce a decision to proceed to construction before year-end.