[Solid-State Battery: Huashang Zhongke Achieves 99.95% High-Purity Lithium Sulfide Pilot Success, Multiple Shandong Enterprises Deploy Lithium Sulfide]

According to EVelution Energy on October 6, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved the company’s Arizona cobalt processing project for the EB-5 investment program on September 30, potentially providing up to US$64.8 million in subordinated financing. EVelution aims to complete a bankable feasibility study in the first quarter of 2027, begin construction in 2027 and achieve commercial operations in 2029. The project is estimated to require approximately US$450 million in total investment and is designed to process about 24,000 tonnes per year of cobalt hydroxide feedstock. Planned output includes around 20,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade cobalt sulfate, equivalent to approximately 4,000 tonnes of contained cobalt, together with up to 3,000 tonnes per year of cobalt metal, for a combined cobalt capacity of about 7,000 tonnes per year. The project has previously received a non-binding financing indication of up to US$275 million from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and has established cobalt feedstock cooperation frameworks with EGC and Trafigura.

According to Electra Battery Materials on October 5, the company has appointed Garzon Duenas as General Manager and Commissioning Lead to oversee the transition of its Ontario cobalt sulfate refinery from construction into commissioning, ramp-up and commercial operations. Electra plans to begin partial commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2026, achieve mechanical completion in the second quarter of 2027, proceed with full commissioning and ramp-up in the third quarter, and reach commercial production in the fourth quarter of 2027. The company also said that following a planned Phase II expansion, cobalt hydroxide processing capacity could increase to approximately 22,500 tonnes per year, equivalent to about 6,500 tonnes per year of contained cobalt. Electra expects the facility to become North America’s first battery-grade cobalt sulfate refinery. The updated management structure and commissioning schedule mark another step toward commercial operation.