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Cobalt is firmly on the critical-minerals agenda. Governments recognize its importance to defense, aerospace, batteries and advanced manufacturing. Manufacturers are examining the security and transparency of their supply chains. New upstream projects are being developed across a wider range of jurisdictions.

The remaining challenge is converting those resources into products that North American industry can use.

Today, much of the world’s cobalt processing capacity is concentrated in China. This leaves a gap between access to raw materials and access to qualified, refined products. Closing that gap requires operating infrastructure, dependable feedstock and customers prepared to receive the finished material.

Electra’s work during August reflected how these pieces are beginning to come together.

Refining Capacity as a Defense Requirement

At the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBX 2026) in Philadelphia recently, Electra participated in discussions focused on the supply chains supporting U.S. defense readiness.

Cobalt’s role extends well beyond electric vehicles. It is used in high-temperature superalloys, electronics and other demanding applications across the defense and aerospace sectors.

The exposure is therefore broader than any one end market. North American manufacturers may have access to cobalt resources, but they still depend heavily on foreign processing to convert those resources into usable products.

This is why refining capacity is becoming part of the defense and industrial-policy discussion. Mineral security ultimately depends on the availability of material in the form, quality and location required by manufacturers.

Electra’s Ontario refinery is being developed to establish battery-grade cobalt sulfate production in North America and provide an additional processing route for allied supply chains.

Preparing the Commercial Supply Chain

New refining capacity also requires coordination with customers well before production begins.

In August, Electra CEO Trent Mell and Vice President, Commercial Michael Insulán travelled to Korea for meetings with commercial contacts, including LG Energy Solution.

Electra and LG Energy Solution have an established commercial relationship covering a majority of the refinery’s planned initial production. As construction advances, continued coordination is required to align refinery readiness with customer requirements.

This work includes product qualification, feedstock planning, logistics and the transition from commissioning into regular commercial supply.

The Korea meetings were part of that preparation. They connected the physical work underway in Ontario with the customer relationships the refinery will need once operational.

Moving Policy into Construction

The final element is execution on the ground.

On August 25, Electra welcomed the Honourable Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, to the refinery in Temiskaming Shores.

The visit followed the finalization of definitive agreements with Invest Ontario for C$17.5 million in previously announced funding to support refinery construction.

Minister Fedeli toured the site as structural steel erection, concrete work, equipment installation and piping continued. These are practical construction milestones, but they also demonstrate what is required to turn critical-minerals policy into operating capacity.

Electra has secured the cobalt feedstock required for commissioning and ramp-up through 2027 under an extended supply agreement with Glencore. Select commissioning activities are targeted to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, followed by mechanical completion and production ramp-up in 2027.

The refinery is designed initially to produce 5,120 tonnes annually of contained cobalt in battery-grade cobalt sulfate.

Looking Ahead

Construction at the Ontario refinery continues, with select commissioning activities targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. At the same time, Electra is working with suppliers and customers on feedstock, product qualification and operating readiness.

The meetings held throughout August helped keep those efforts aligned with government priorities, defense requirements and customer planning.

Electra remains focused on bringing the refinery into operation.

Learn more about Electra’s Ontario refinery and critical-minerals strategy.