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EV Makers Eye Bigger Battery-Metals Role by Inking Mining Deals
- Wheaton Precious Metals CEO sees move driven by supply issues
- Electric-vehicle makers want own deals for nickel and cobalt
Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
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Electric-vehicle makers are pushing for an intermediary role in mining to secure supplies of key battery metals, according to the head of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.
“We’ve had discussions on that and Tesla has definitely explored these options,” Chief Executive Officer Randy Smallwood said Friday in a phone interview. “There is a real concern on the battery metal side in terms of supply.”