US Strategic Metals Joins Forces with Chilean Cobalt Corp. and Glencore on Cobalt Supply Chain

US Strategic Metals (USSM) has entered a partnership with Chilean Cobalt Corp. (C3) and Glencore AG, a division of Glencore, to facilitate the processing of cobalt and cobalt intermediates from C3's La Cobaltera project in Chile. The collaboration aims to establish a U.S.-centric cobalt supply chain, linking the La Cobaltera project with USSM's critical metals processing facility in Missouri, where a cobalt concentrate processing line is planned.

The partnership is expected to strengthen the supply chain for raw materials essential for lithium battery components and specialty alloys, supporting industries reliant on these critical metals. In July, C3 signed a letter of intent with Glencore for a purchase agreement covering cobalt and copper products, and this partnership with USSM marks a further step in securing supply and processing capabilities within the U.S.

USSM, C3, and Glencore anticipate that much of the cobalt and copper produced from the La Cobaltera project will be shipped to the U.S. or to countries under the U.S. Free Trade Agreement. The financial aspects of the deal may involve backing from the U.S. EXIM Bank.