Metso Outotec has signed an agreement with the Canadian battery materials company First Cobalt Corporation to deliver ‘Planet Positive' solvent extraction technology to their cobalt refinery expansion in Ontario, Canada.

The company said the delivery, worth approximately $11.6 million (€10 million), includes the engineering and supply of a modular VSFX solvent extraction plant, which First Cobalt would use to produce 25,000 tonnes of traceable, high quality, battery-grade cobalt sulphate a year.

Trent Mell, president and chief executive, First Cobalt, said Metso Outotec was selected based on its "competitive pricing" and "technically superior bid".

Additionally, Mell said the contracted solution involves the "latest advancements in solvent extraction in terms of modular design, process control, and ease of installation and start-up".

Mikko Ranthaharju, vice president, Hydrometallurgy, Metso Outotec, said the company was excited with First Cobalt and explained that it would be the first VSFX solvent extraction plant in Canada.