Can Australia Finally Crack the Cobalt Code?

Legacy Minerals and Cobalt Blue team up to refine Australia’s battery future

23 Oct 2025

Australia’s ambitions in the battery minerals race just got a powerful jolt. Legacy Minerals and Cobalt Blue have formed a strategic alliance that could redefine the nation’s place in the global supply chain for electric vehicles and energy storage.

The partnership will study a full domestic route from mine to refined battery materials, positioning Australia as a serious player in cobalt and nickel refining. Legacy Minerals brings its NiCo Young nickel-cobalt project to the table, while Cobalt Blue contributes its processing infrastructure near Kwinana. Together, they aim to build a continuous flow from ore to battery-grade cobalt, reducing reliance on imported materials and diversifying supply chains beyond China.

Although Australia holds a notable share of the world’s cobalt reserves, its share of actual production remains small. This alliance hopes to bridge that divide. “For too long we’ve exported our potential and imported the profits,” said a Cobalt Blue spokesperson. “This partnership signals a turning point.”

The timing could hardly be better. Soaring demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage is heightening pressure on global supplies of key battery metals. Analysts suggest the collaboration could stir new competition in local refining and attract greater investment into Australia’s growing midstream sector.

The move also reflects a wider shift in mining strategy. Companies are reaching further down the value chain, while governments are offering incentives for projects that keep more value onshore. Yet challenges remain. Building processing plants demands heavy capital, stable energy access, and regulatory certainty. Market swings in metal prices only add to the uncertainty.

Still, the direction is clear. If partnerships like this can turn Australia’s mineral wealth into refined, traceable battery materials, the country could evolve from a raw exporter into a central hub for the clean energy economy. For a nation rich in resources but eager for a bigger role in the energy transition, this alliance might just be the spark it needs.