Global top-tier mining entities Glencore, CMOC and Eurasian Resources Group, with the help of battery material supplier Umicore reportedly revealed the trial phase for a blockchain-powered tool to help with responsible cobalt sourcing. 

Specifically, the four firms are jointly working on the pilot testing for a blockchain tool, dubbed “Relsource”, across real-world operating conditions. 

Such conditions can reportedly include the tracing of minerals produced by cobalt production centers in the DRC, to downstream electric vehicle production sites. 

The pilot will reportedly be operational until 2021 ends, and the official version is scheduled to be made available the following year. 

Blockchain is reportedly believed to offer significant features for enhancing the transparency and monitoring of the process, as revealed by Head of Glencore, Ivan Glasenberg. 

“Traceability is not enough on its own, it must be part of a wider industry effort to bring improvements to the entire cobalt supply chain. This starts with responsible sourcing compliance, for example through RMI [Responsible Minerals Initiative]; the collective use of wider ESG [Environmental, Social, and Governance] standards […]; and supporting the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo sector through multi-stakeholder initiatives like the Fair Cobalt Alliance.”

RelSource is reportedly a tool made available by the three miners in 2019, with Umicore becoming a part of it later with an anonymous electric vehicles producer. The system utilized zero-knowledge-proofs together with blockchain, and was built by blockchain studio Kryha, which has experience collaborating on applications for carbon footprint and metals tracing previously.