Australia has given the green light for a massive $560 million (US$410 million) cobalt mining project, aligning with the nation’s plan to become a global battery powerhouse amid an increasingly battery-dependent world. It also comes amid reports that current cobalt supplies are being sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in deadly conditions using child slave labour. The Broken Hill Cobalt Project aims to mine cobalt ores and produce 16,700 tonnes of battery-read cobalt sulphate each year—enough for the lithium-ion batteries in more than a million electric vehicles. In all, Australia holds around 20 percent of the world’s cobalt, lithium and nickel deposits—the three key minerals used in lithium-ion batteries. Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction said the project helped Australia strengthen its position as the go-to for the world’s supply of critical minerals. “The Broken Hill Cobalt project’s pilot plant has already produced samples for shipping to …