Nation’s first cobalt processing plant planned for Yuma County
YUMA, AZ (AZFamily)—There’s a push to reduce reliance on China for cobalt, a metal key to making rechargeable batteries, computer chips, and medical devices.
The nation’s first cobalt processing facility could be coming to Arizona.
Evelution Energy’s solar-powered cobalt processing facility was approved by Yuma County leaders two years ago. The company said they’re on track to begin construction at the end of the year. The facility is set to be built in Tacna, about 40 miles east of Yuma.
Co-founder Gil Michel-Garcia said the plant will meet 40% of the U.S. demand for cobalt.
“What we’re trying to do in this facility is address the lack of cobalt processing and the lack of domestic availability in the United States and produce it in a green manner in a large facility,” said Garcia.
Garcia said they’re trying to disrupt China’s dominance in the cobalt market. It’s estimated that China’s refineries produce 60-90% of the global supply.
With President Trump moving to boost domestic metals production, Evelution Energy believes it’s in the right place at the right time. “We are a project that directly benefits from the tariffs because we are preventing competing Chinese materials,” said Garcia.
A Yuma economic impact report estimates that the proposed plant will create 1,200 construction jobs and up to 60 permanent positions.
The company plans to partner with Arizona Western College to develop a training program for hiring local students and veterans.
“We’re particularly focused on hiring veterans because we’re gonna want people with security clearances,” said Garcia.
Evelution Energy says it is committed to an environmentally friendly solar-powered facility. It plans to use water from groundwater wells and recycle up to 70% of it.
“We’re not dumping anything in the water table that may affect them and we’re not leaving out any materials that could create dust that could contaminate their crops,” said Garcia.
Garcia said the surplus energy they produce from their solar will be sold at a low cost to nearby farmers.
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