Refiner

Freeport Cobalt Oy

Historical Kokkola cobalt refiner that received TFM-origin crude cobalt hydroxide under a long-term agreement before the refining business was acquired by Umicore in late 2019.

Sources support the description and the individual connections below. Publication and checking dates belong to the evidence: when it was published, and when this Hub last read it.

Documented relationships

Reported means the cited source describes the relationship at its evidence date. Historical relationships refer to an earlier period. Announced agreements may not have been implemented. None of these labels confirms that trade continues today.

  • Historical · Evidence as of 2013

    Reported supply

    USGS reports that Gécamines-owned CMSK sold cobalt concentrates to Freeport Cobalt in Finland in 2013; the report attributes this sale to a market source.

    2 sources
    1. EITI DRC report 2014: Compagnie minière du Sud-Katanga

      EITI DRC · Published 2016 · Checked 2026-09-24

      The 2014 report names Compagnie minière du Sud-Katanga as a Gécamines-owned company.

      State ownership table, CMSK row.

    2. USGS 2013 Minerals Yearbook: Cobalt

      U.S. Geological Survey · Published 2015 · Checked 2026-09-24

      GTL alloy from Big Hill was refined at Freeport Cobalt; CMSK reportedly sold cobalt concentrate to Freeport Cobalt.

      PDF pp.5–6, DRC and Finland sections.

  • Historical · Evidence as of 2013

    Reported supply

    USGS reports that GTL Big Hill cobalt alloy was refined at Freeport Cobalt in Finland and records a two-year supply agreement; GTL is not conflated with later STL.

    2 sources
    1. EITI DRC report 2013: GTL cobalt alloy

      EITI DRC · Published 2015 · Checked 2026-09-24

      The 2013 DRC extractive-industry report identifies Groupement pour le Traitement du Terril de Lubumbashi (GTL) and its alloy output.

      Production table, GTL / All.Blanc row.

    2. USGS 2013 Minerals Yearbook: Cobalt

      U.S. Geological Survey · Published 2015 · Checked 2026-09-24

      GTL alloy from Big Hill was refined at Freeport Cobalt; CMSK reportedly sold cobalt concentrate to Freeport Cobalt.

      PDF pp.5–6, DRC and Finland sections.

  • Historical · Evidence as of 2019

    Reported supply

    USGS reports that crude cobalt hydroxide from Tenke Fungurume was the principal feed of Freeport Cobalt Oy’s Kokkola refinery under a long-term supply agreement.

    1 source
    1. USGS 2019 Minerals Yearbook: Cobalt

      U.S. Geological Survey · Published 2019 · Checked 2026-09-24

      Freeport Cobalt Oy refinery at Kokkola consumed mainly crude cobalt hydroxide supplied under a long-term agreement by Tenke Fungurume

      Finland section, Kokkola paragraph.