Exclusive-China's CMOC calls on Congo to lift cobalt export ban, sources say

China's CMOC Group, the world's top cobalt mining company, called on Democratic Republic of Congo last week to lift a ban on exports of the battery metal, which is currently due to expire next month, three sources told Reuters. Congo, the world's leading cobalt producing country, imposed the four-month ban in February in an attempt to curb surpluses as cobalt prices touched nine-year lows around $10 a lb, or $22,000 a metric ton. CMOC's Vice President Kenny Ives told delegates at a closed-door session during an industry meeting in Singapore that Congo should lift the export curbs on the metal, an important ingredient in electric vehicle batteries, the sources said.