Cobalt processing plant proposed for Yuma County
Andrea Turisk
YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Evelution Energy LLC says Yuma County is the ideal location for the first cobalt factory in North America.
They say it’s not just about cobal. It’s about opportunity.
Evelution Energy’s proposed cobalt processing plant will sit on 138 acres of land in Tacna. Once completed, it will be the only facility of its kind in North America, producing battery grade cobalt sulfate.
Navaid Alam, President and CEO of Evelution Energy, says this project will have a positive impact on our community: “We would create over 33 hundred induced direct and indirect jobs and over $750 million of economic impact in the community.”
Evelution Energy says they plan to offer technical training programs at Arizona Western College to help prepare local residents for the jobs ahead.
Gil Michel-Garcia, co-founder and general council of Evelution Energy LLC says, “It’s gonna be focused on teaching our workers how to process metallurgically cobalt and copper which is a similar process. It will be spearheaded by Arizona Western College.”
The goal is to reduce the dependence on foreign supply chains by building a fully American made solution.
“When fully operational we will be capable of supplying up to 40% of U.S. Demand,” said Michel-Garcia.
Evelution Energy says the groundbreaking isn’t happening until later this year, but planning is already underway.