Can Australia Win the Global Battery Race?

Cobalt Blue and Legacy Minerals team up to refine nickel and cobalt at home, reshaping Australia’s energy future

10 Nov 2025

Australia’s efforts to secure a stronger role in the global battery industry gained momentum this week with a new partnership between Cobalt Blue and Legacy Minerals. The two companies signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to explore a domestic nickel-cobalt supply chain, a move aimed at strengthening energy independence and capturing more of the battery value chain within Australia.

The collaboration centers on the NiCo Young project in New South Wales, one of the country’s largest undeveloped nickel and cobalt deposits. Rather than exporting raw ore, the partners plan to assess refining options through Cobalt Blue’s proposed facility in Western Australia. Their goal is to process Australia’s mineral resources into high-value, battery-grade materials that could serve expanding markets for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.

The agreement arrives as global supply chains face disruption from geopolitical uncertainty and trade tensions. Many nations are seeking reliable sources of critical minerals, and Australia, traditionally a raw materials exporter, is moving to expand its domestic manufacturing base. The federal government’s National Battery Strategy, which supports local processing and advanced manufacturing, has provided policy momentum for such initiatives.

“This collaboration is more than a mining deal; it is a strategic leap toward energy independence,” said Cobalt Blue’s chief executive, Andrew Tong. “Control over processing determines who captures the real value in the battery supply chain.”

Industry analysts say the partnership could help reduce Australia’s dependence on overseas refineries, particularly in China, while advancing environmental and social standards for mineral sourcing. Challenges remain, including regulatory approvals and funding commitments, but observers view the project as a test case for Australia’s ambitions to move further down the clean-energy value chain.

If realized, the venture could mark a turning point for Australia’s industrial economy, shifting its role from exporter of raw minerals to producer of refined materials essential for a decarbonized future.