26 January 2024
Oxair Gas Systems has officially partnered with Cobalt Blue Holdings to provide critical on-site oxygen and nitrogen generators for the world’s premier ethical cobalt mining operation. Located in Broken Hill, New South Wales, this project is at the heart of Australia’s critical minerals revolution. By providing a constant, standalone supply of high-purity gases, Oxair is enabling the commercial-scale processing of cobalt—a vital component in battery chemistry for electric vehicles (EVs) and global renewable energy storage.
As the global shift toward decarbonization accelerates, the demand for sustainable battery materials has soared. The Broken Hill Cobalt Project is projected to produce enough cobalt to power 5 million EVs, and Oxair’s gas separation technology is the technical "engine" ensuring this process remains safe, efficient, and environmentally sound.
Cobalt Blue, an ethical cobalt development and technology company, knows sustainable energy will lead to a decarbonised future, and the switch is creating massive demand for batteries and for cobalt. The mineral is critical to battery chemistry and is the reason why the Broken Hill Cobalt Project is projected to be scaled up to become a top 10 cobalt mine equivalent with the aim of producing enough cobalt to power 5 million EVs.
The nitrogen generator is used in the project’s kiln. Pyrite concentrate is thermally decomposed in the kiln, during which sulphur is released in a gaseous state, as a by-product of the process. An inert environment is vital for this process and, to achieve this, nitrogen is required at 99.5% purity. This can be a dangerous process as oxygen ingress can lead to the formation of sulphur dioxide, a toxic gas.
Oxygen is essential for the chemical reaction to leach cobalt from the pyrrhotite into solution. The Oxair oxygen generator is used to supply oxygen at pressure to the oxidation leach circuit.
Adam Randall, Broken Hill Cobalt Project, Demonstration Plant Manager, explained: “Investing in world class equipment is vital to achieving both safety and sustainability goals – something which is not lost on Cobalt Blue. Broken Hill Cobalt Project builds on 130 years of mining history and Oxair’s technology will help us to achieve commercial scale mining and processing operations in the near future. Together we are helping to create a renewable energy future and a community for our miners and their families here, and we’d thoroughly recommend Oxair’s systems for other mining operations.”
Oxair’s David Cheeseman added: “Battery power is undoubtedly the future across many industry sectors, but this can’t be achieved without vital components like cobalt. Cobalt Blue is a unique endeavour and we are honoured that our systems are contributing to its current productivity – and to its ambitious targets to become one of the leading cobalt mines in the world. We very much look forward to helping Cobalt Blue shape the future of battery technology.”
Ready to discuss your gas system requirements? Find out more or request a quote for an on-site oxygen or nitrogen gas generating system.
