Due to the rapid electrification of mobility, the demand for cobalt is going to grow astronomically. Currently, 65% of global cobalt production occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has led the EC to define cobalt as a highly critical metal. Setting up an EU value chain for the primary production and recovery of cobalt is thus of strategic importance. The EU H2020 CROCODILE project, therefore, showcases an innovative metallurgical system, based on advanced pyro-, hydro-, bio-, iono- and electrometallurgy technologies, for the recovery of cobalt and the production of cobalt metal and upstream products. A wide variety of secondary and primary European resources will serve as feedstocks. CROCODILE will pro-actively engage with local and international civil society groups, in order to obtain and maintain the Social License to Operate for cobalt recovery and production.

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