The United States Department of Defense intends to acquire up to 7,500 tons of cobalt over the next five years, with a contract valued at $500 million. This marks the first time in decades that the department has procured cobalt for strategic reserves, aiming to bolster domestic supplies of vital metals. According to tender documents released this week, this procurement is the latest step taken by the U.S. to enhance the security of its critical metal supply chains. Cobalt is indispensable for both military systems and battery manufacturing.
