Umicore joins mining firms Glencore, CMOC and ERG in blockchain cobalt traceability project

by John Shepherd
Umicore CEO Marc Grynberg: 'Important step towards a sustainable value chain for all batteries.'
Battery materials supplier Umicore and mining firms CMOC, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) and Glencore, are collaborating on a pilot project to track responsibly-produced cobalt from the mine to electric vehicles using blockchain technology.

The partners said the ReSource project, which will run until the end of this year, will be tested in actual operating conditions, from upstream cobalt production sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to downstream EV production sites.

Under the pilot programme, “every unit of cobalt” is accounted for by being placed in bags that are “signed, sealed and given a unique code, to be tracked along the supply chain”. The project is expected to lead to the roll-out of the “final solution” next year.

ReSource was founded by CMOC, ERG and Glencore and launched in 2019, with Umicore and an undisclosed battery and EV company joining the programme later.

'Pioneer'

Umicore said the project is also linked to the Global Battery Alliance’s ‘Battery Passport’ project, which aims to make the entire battery production supply chain more responsible and sustainable.

Meanwhile, ReSource is also exploring how aspects of the related greenhouse gas emissions along the value chain can be traced and disclosed.

Umicore CEO Marc Grynberg said: "For many years, Umicore has been a pioneer in promoting a sustainable value chain by only offering battery materials of a certified and ethical origin. Today, we share our expertise within this innovatory consortium and participate in the pilot to develop an industry-wide traceability technology, which is an important step towards a sustainable value chain for all batteries.”

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