Bongo, bongo, bongo, I don't want a civilization dependent on China and the Congo, oh no, no, no, no, no.
Mining.com (3/19/24) reports: "The US looked into buying cobalt for defence stockpiles last year, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, adding the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) could consider purchases in future despite deciding against them in its latest plan. Any increase in cobalt holdings would be aimed at reducing reliance on China, which dominates the processing of the material used to make missiles, aerospace parts, magnets for communication, and radar and guidance systems. Cobalt is also used to make the batteries that power electric vehicles, a key plank of the energy transition...Most of the cobalt mined in Congo, amounting to 77% of global supplies or more than 170,000 tons last year, according to Darton Commodities, was exported to China for processing into metal or chemicals for batteries. The NDS 'lacks sufficient cobalt reserves, endangering America’s critical mineral supply chain,' the letter said, adding that: “From approximately 13,000 tons during the Cold War, cobalt in the Stockpile is now estimated at 333 tons.' 'In practical terms, the total cobalt stockpile is only 5 percent of annual US consumption.'"
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"Despite the clear benefits of fossil fuels, green activists demand that we 'leave (them) in the ground and learn to live without them.' That’s the language of degrowth. Learn to notice it when you hear it."
– Jason Hayes,
The Mackinac Center
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