US military announces $20m grant to build cobalt refinery in Canada

Pentagon investment would make North America's first cobalt sulfate refinery as US looks to diversify supply chain

The US military has made its largest investment in Canada's mining sector in decades, spending millions amid a looming battle among nations to control the supply of cobalt.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced a $20m grant to help build a cobalt refinery in the province of Ontario, saying the investment will create a more robust industrial base capable of meeting growing demand across both the defense and commercial sectors".