Managem, Glencore Partner to Recycle Cobalt in Morocco

Rabat – Morocco’s Managem announced on January 25 its partnership with the Anglo-Swiss multinational Glencore to produce cobalt from recycled battery materials at Managem’s CTT Hydrometallurgical Refinery in Guemssa (30 km from Marrakech).

Managem and Glencore are companies with decades of expertise in the mining sector. They are long-standing members of the Cobalt Institute and they comply with the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) Assurance Process for cobalt.

Through this partnership, Managem and Glencore “intend to enter into a 5-year tolling agreement for c.1.2kt of recycled cobalt per year as well as Nickel Hydroxide and Lithium Carbonate,” the two companies noted in a press release.

Under the agreement, Managem is bonded to deliver technology for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. The technology allows a high recovery rate of cobalt, lithium, and nickel from black matter.

In return, Glencore has to supply the Managem-owned Compagnie de Tifnout Tiranimine (CTT) refinery with cobalt-containing black mass. Glencore expects to collect cobalt from its operations in Canada (Sudbury) and Norway (Nikkelverk), then process it at the eco-friendly CTT refinery station, run by 90% green energy.

Additionally, the Anglo-Swiss company is responsible for the marketing of recycled products through its global network of portal electronics and automotive customers.

With the ongoing transition to green energy, “the demand for cobalt is expected to increase significantly in the next decade,” said Imad Toumi, Chairman & CEO of Managem. He added, “Most actors in the supply chain seek to ensure sustainably sourced materials and we strongly believe that recycling will play a crucial role in addressing this demand.”

David Brocas, Head of Cobalt Trader in Glencore, agreed with Toumi’s assessment. “As the world seeks to address the challenge of climate change,” he argued, “primary/recycled cobalt and other future facing commodities are set to play a pivotal role in decarbonizing energy consumption and delivering the electric vehicle revolution.” Glencore, he added, “is already… helping to underpin our ambition of achieving net zero total emissions by 2050.”

Managem and Glencore partnership contributes to the reduction of battery materials waste and greenhouse gas emissions, which aligns with Morocco’s commitment to sustainable development and sustainable energy.

Through its 2050 energy strategy, Morocco seeks to consolidate sustainable development’s governance, improve the management and development of natural resources, and reach 80% renewable energy in the electricity mix by 2050.