Cengiz Holding Doubles Cobalt Production

Cengiz Holding, one of Turkey's largest industrial enterprises, has doubled cobalt production capacity at its ICoNiChem facility in the United Kingdom, increasing it to 1,800 tonnes. Cobalt, widely used in batteries, accumulators and catalysts as well as key 21st-century sectors including technology, petrochemicals, electric vehicle and aircraft industries, is regarded as one of the most important elements in high-value industrial products. Despite all uncertainties in the global economy, Cengiz Holding has continued its investments and doubled cobalt production at its ICoNiChem facility in Widnes, United Kingdom. ICoNiChem, which separates cobalt—considered the 'element of the century'—from nickel, sodium and magnesium, has increased its separation capacity from 900 tonnes to 1,800 tonnes and has begun processing products from the Mardin Mazıdağı Metal Recovery and Integrated Fertiliser Facility. With the latest investments, ICoNiChem has joined the world's select facilities capable of producing specialty cobalt salts for technology-intensive sectors, and can produce cobalt at very high purity levels according to customer requirements. From this facility, exports are made to different parts of the world, and high-value products are manufactured for technology, petrochemical, automotive, aircraft, ceramic and other industries.

ICoNiChem General Director Emre Kayışoğlu stated that they are among the world's leading companies in mining technologies and continued as follows:

"Cobalt has gained significant importance worldwide, particularly with the technology age we are in. Looking at it historically, cobalt was used mainly in the paint industry in the past, but today it is indispensable in batteries, accumulators, catalysts and many other sectors where technology is most intensive. As a company that produces 2 percent of global cobalt production, we are strengthening our leading role in the global economy through new investments and continuous development of our technological infrastructure." [caption id="attachment_144658" align="aligncenter"] ICoNiChem General Director Emre Kayışoğlu[/caption]

A source of great pride for Turkish industry

"At the facility, we replaced the steam boiler that had been in use for approximately 30 years, which represented a very important improvement initiative in operational and safety areas. Additionally, with the latest technology we have begun using in our laboratories, we can now measure the metallic purity of our final products in the best and most accurate manner; we can bring cobalt to 99.99 percent purity. All these technological developments provide us with a very important competitive advantage in global markets. Thanks to these investments, in the coming period we will expand into very different markets, increasing the number of countries to which we export and our market share. While processing raw materials we source from different locations in the United Kingdom, we are also adding value to the cobalt from our Mardin facility and presenting it to global markets. This is a source of great pride not only for us but for Turkish industry as well."