Vale nickel expansion eases cobalt supply tensions

Cobalt’s supply issues have failed to be quelled in the fourth quarter of the year leaving questions over whether a significant shortage will hit the industry in 2016.

With oversupply and prices plummeting to six-year lows in both copper and nickel, their cobalt byproduct, one of the few in-demandmetals, is facing indirect supply cuts.

However, one of the world’s largest mining groups, Vale, is going against the grain and is increasing output from its nickel mine in New Caledonia – the Pacific island chain close to Fiji – a move which will see the company supply . . .