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US Strategic Metals, Glencore, and C3 Join Forces to Strengthen Critical Minerals Processing in the US

Metals and Mining

Mining Leaders’ Partnership to Strengthen Critical Minerals Processing

Business Honor
16 September, 2024

USA Mining Leaders’ Partnership to build a robust cobalt and copper supply chain for lithium-ion batteries and high-performance alloys

US Strategic Metals (USSM), Chilean Cobalt Corp. (C3), and Glencore AG, a subsidiary of Glencore, have formed a strategic alliance to boost the US downstream processing of cobalt and copper from C3’s La Cobaltera project in Chile. This collaboration is a significant step towards establishing an Americas-focused cobalt supply chain.

The partnership will link C3’s Chilean operations with USSM’s critical minerals processing facility in Missouri, strengthening the US supply chain for essential raw materials required for lithium-ion batteries and high-performance metal alloys. This move is expected to support the growing domestic market for sustainable energy and advanced technologies.

In July 2024, C3 signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Glencore, covering an offtake agreement for cobalt and copper products, as well as a strategic partnership for the La Cobaltera project. The recent agreement with USSM expands on this by exploring domestic processing solutions in the US.

The collaboration aims to reduce dependency on foreign supply chains and bolster the US's ability to produce critical minerals vital for clean energy technologies and high-performance industries.