Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT.CN) Breaking News
July 19, 2018

Indonesia May Provide Answer For Electronic Industry’s Growing Cobalt Problem

Palm Beach FL – July 19, 2018 - Microsmallcap.com News Commentary for Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT.CN)  - Concerns over the sourcing of cobalt from makeshift mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are threatening the supply chain. Manufacturers facing pressure to ethically source their materials are now seeking new supply chains to prove their cobalt was acquired without the use of child labor. Key industry players such as eCobalt Solutions (TSX:ECS) (OTC:ECSIF), First Cobalt Corp. (TSX-V:FCC) (OTC:FTSSF), Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (OTC:IVPAF)(TSX:IVN), Nevsun Resources Ltd. (NYSE:NSU) (TSX:NSU), and Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTC:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) are developing cobalt projects.  

Outside of the DRC, the next richest source of cobalt is contained in so-called nickel laterite deposits that are spread across Indonesia and the Philippines. The area carries less geo-political risk than central Africa, according to the Fraser Institute which compiles an annual ranking of mining jurisdictions. This is where Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) has chosen to explore its project, which could prove to become a reliable new source of cobalt to makers of lithium-ion batteries. 

Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) controls an exploration concession extending 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres) with a historical estimate resource of 37 million metric tons of nickel laterite core holding 1.31% nickel and 0.11% cobalt [historic estimate footnote]. Their top project named “Cyclops” was extensively explored in the 1970s by Pacific Nikkel Indonesia, a company backed by major mining companies including Newmont Mining Corp. and U.S. Steel Corp.   

Part of Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp.’s rationale to reassess Cyclops is the value of the potential cobalt in the ground. Back in the 1970s and before the advent of the lithium-ion battery, the cobalt historically estimated in the laterite was of little value. Now, with cobalt trading at nearly $70,000 USD  metric ton on the London Metal Exchange (LME), the value of the silvery metal is perhaps the driving force of the project.  

The island of New Guinea, which is comprised of the nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on the eastern half and the Indonesian province of Papua to the Wests, has yielded massive discoveries. Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold operates one of the world’s largest copper and gold mines in Papua, while the PNG government operates the Ramu Nickel-Cobalt Mine, a productive project located in Madang Province along PNG’s north coast.

Child Labor Negatively Impacting Cobalt Buyers 

Cobalt is unrivalled as an essential element for high-end batteries, allowing mobile phones and next-generation car batteries to discharge energy effectively. Several companies from LG Chem to Samsung plan to open 36 electrical vehicle factories by 2023, according to analyst Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, tightening a market that has relied heavily on DRC mines to supply the cobalt. Prices doubled in 2017, on growing concerns that the shortage may get worse. Battery makers prefer cobalt-based batteries, but they need new supplies to ensure that batteries are cheap enough for electrical vehicles (EVs) to displace the internal combustion engine.  

Manufacturers currently face major concerns over the cobalt supply chain. Several artisanal mines in the DRC are reported to have used child labor in the ore extraction process, according to Amnesty International. Apple Inc. recently took direct control of its cobalt procurement, sidestepping middle-men suppliers, to ensure that no child labor was involved in making its iPhones. Volkswagen has taken a similar move, looking for a long-term supply deal with a reputable cobalt supplier.  

Fresh Concerns Hit DRC Producers  

The LME recently increased its scrutiny of companies that source cobalt from the DRC in the light of fresh concerns about the sourcing of cobalt. The situation in the central African country appears to be getting worse, not better, when it comes to calming buyers’ fears of substandard working conditions and overall supply disruption fears.  

Switzerland’s Glencore, the world’s largest cobalt producer, is currently facing a swarm of problems in the DRC. Glencore recently resumed payments to an Israeli arms dealer with close ties to President Joseph Kabila, a move that could trigger U.S. sanctions. The company was recently forced to renegotiate a deal it had with a state mining company, accepting an unexpected increase in royalties. Glencore is now on the receiving end of a lawsuit from a former shareholder in the DRC.  

Glencore’s troubles in the DRC are an absolute nightmare for makers of electronic batteries from Panasonic to Tesla, with the prospect of a shortage looming overhead. Panasonic, the exclusive supplier of electronic batteries to Tesla, will more than triple cobalt consumption in five years, according to Reuters.  

Securing a new supply from countries like Indonesia could help the likes of Apple and Tesla by easing investors’ fears over environmental concerns. The country has a strong mining regulatory framework and responsible environmental laws, which should enable Pacific Rim to safely develop their large-scale project.   

Like many projects situated within the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kamoa-Kakula Project co-owned by Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (OTCQX:IVPAF) (TSX:IVN) could be subject to further mining reform. The project is a joint venture that includes the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, meaning labor standards could be more stringent than at similar work sites. Ivanhoe currently operate three mines across Southern Africa that are expected to produce a variety of metals including copper, nickel, gold, and zinc.  

Resource companies across Africa have faced their own pressure due to alleged human rights violations. Nevsun Resources Ltd. (NYSE:NSU) (TSX:NSU), who operate the Bisha mine in Eritrea, have denied accusations from three former workers that allege the company engaged in forced labour and other human rights abuses at their facility. The workers originally filed a lawsuit in Canadian court, which Nevsun has appealed to Supreme Court of Canada.  

Some companies are also trying to develop cobalt projects in North America to create an alternative supply chain. eCobalt Solutions Inc. (TSX:ECS) (OTCQX:ECSIF) has permitting in place to redevelop a former a cobalt mine in Idaho. The company is due to start production in 2019. The company has spent $120 million developing the project over the past 20 years.  

First Cobalt Corp. (TSX-V:FCC) (OTCQX:FTSSF) is developing three cobalt projects in both Canada and the US, including the 727-hectare Iron Creek project in Idaho which has 9,100 meters of historic drilling carried out by major mining company Noranda. Exploration concessions in Ontario total more than 10,000 hectares and include a former mill and permitted cobalt refinery in the historic Cobalt Camp. The project also contains 0.3% copper besides 0.59% cobalt grade average. The company recently completed the acquisition of US Cobalt, which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Cobalt.  

The DRC situation underscores the need for global mining industry to develop new sources of cobalt from geographies that are conflict-free. Like any commodity market, the winners are likely to be companies that can own a large-scale resource that can be developed at a low cost, and in a jurisdiction with low political risk. Pacific Rim’s “Cyclops” project aims to fit into these categories. 

This represents an excellent opportunity for Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE), which is an early entrant into Indonesia and is potentially holding a large source of two critical EV battery ingredients. The company has already reached an agreement with Beijing Easpring Material Technology Co., Ltd. (“Easpring”), one of the first Chinese companies to export lithium cathode material overseas. The agreement is expected to grant Easpring the right to purchase both nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate from the Cyclops project for the initial 5 years of production.  

For more information on Pacific Rim please visit: Pacific Rim Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) visit Microsmallcap.com for a full report.

Historical Estimate
Pacific Rim Cobalt considers the cobalt and nickel tonnage and grade estimates contained herein to be historical estimates. The historical estimates are contained in the Summary Geologic Investigations, PT. Pacific Nikkel Indonesia 1969 – 1979 (Reynolds 1979). These historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM Definition Standards. These estimates were prepared in the 1980s prior to the adoption and implementation of NI 43-101. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and Pacific Rim Cobalt is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. More work, including but not limited to, drilling, will be required to conform the estimates to current CIM Definition Standards. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Company’s project. Efforts to obtain any additional information regarding relevant historical work is ongoing, although there are no assurances that this original data will be found. Pacific Rim Cobalt believes that the historical estimates are relevant to continuing exploration on the project. For more information please refer to our technical report, filed on SEDAR on December 8, 2017 and available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com

 DISCLAIMER: Microsmallcap.com (MSC) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with MSC or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by MSC are solely those of MSC and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable MSC and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. MSC and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.
 
 The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author (MSC), and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author (MSC) has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, MSC, FNM, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer's securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment. FNM was not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release but was compensated forty four hundred dollars by MSC, a non-affiliated third party to distribute this release on behalf of Pacific Rim Cobalt
 
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 This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and MSC and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements.
 
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Cobalt Prices Are Up 148% Over The Last Year, Might Just Be Getting Started

Palm Beach FL – July 12, 2018 - Microsmallcap.com News Commentary for Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT.CN)  - In the past 8 months, the electric vehicle conversation stopped being about whether or not Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) had the ability to scale, and started being about how the legacy companies are going to supply the growing EV market that Tesla opened up. Audi, BMW and General Motors adjusting to put themselves in position to keep up with a changing auto market are causing the undersupplied cobalt market to undergo a shift of its own. Runaway cobalt price (+148% Trailing Twelve Months) is fueling an aggressive push to create new supply. In the first-ever deal of its kind, special purpose cobalt royalty & streaming company Cobalt 27 (TSX-V:KBLT) earlier this month purchased the rights to $300 million worth of cobalt byproduct from steel giant Vale-SA, who has forward-sold it to finance the expansion of their Voisey’s Bay nickel-copper-cobalt project in Newfoundland. In what might be considered cobalt’s move into the mainstream, Vale simultaneously did an identical streaming deal with established streaming company Wheaton Precious Metals for $370 million. Cobalt 27 was able to finance the transaction immediately with a $300M bought deal underwriting, as institutions recognize the price potential in an under-supplied cobalt market.  While companies like First Cobalt, Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT), Lithium Chile (TSX-V:LITH) (OTC:LTMCF) and Katanga Mining (OTC:KATFF) (TSX:KAT) continue to explore potential cobalt sources, the demand from automakers is expected to exceed the increasing supply. 

The supply deficit in the cobalt market that is being brought on by the EV scale-up is causing a runaway cobalt price similar to the lithium supply crunch that came early on when the EV boom was just a market projection.

Lithium supply scaled up rapidly in the initial Tesla gigafactory hype because the price of lithium acted accordingly. Since lithium comes from brine operations with a relatively short discovery and development time, the Lithium price cycle reached a stasis quickly. The supply now exists at a price that the producers and buyers are happy with, and many predict the lithium supply crunch is mostly over. But lithium alone won’t get these batteries made. 

Depending on how they’re made, battery cathodes can be over 60% cobalt by weight. Batteries only recently became the most common use for cobalt. Previously, the metal was mostly used in alloys. Those alloys aren’t going away, and more batteries are going to take more cobalt. It’s still unclear where all of that cobalt is going to come from.

Asian Markets Are The Largest EV Producers and Consumers

Government mandates and fuel price sensitivity have the Asian markets adopting full-electric and plug-in hybrid cars much quicker than American markets.  

Facilities to handle all parts of the materials process are being built at an accelerated rate in all major manufacturing centres, but most notably in China. Chinese materials company Beijing Easpring recently commissioned a US $495MM battery materials plant designed to “ease the bottleneck,” created by the explosive Chinese growth of EVs, including those made by Warren Buffett-backed BYD Auto. BYD surpassed Tesla last year to become the number one seller of EVs in the world. General Motors has already launched 10 electric and plug-in hybrid models in China, with ten more to come.  

Further upstream in the supply chain, the largest cobalt producing mine in the world shuttered its cobalt circuit in 2015, and only brought it back online in Q4 2017, when it produced only 525 tons. The Komoto mine - in the middle of the volatile DRC - is owned by Katanga Copper (OTC:KATFF) (TSX:KAT), and continues to be the subject of an ongoing fight between Swiss mining giant Glencor and Israeli financier Dan Gertler. As the supply pinch tightens, capital is moving further up the risk curve in search of a less volatile source of feed.

The Hunt For Strategic Supply

To address the opportunity created by this localized development and price growth,  the team from Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) selected the Cyclops property for advancement as part of a targeted strategy. The Cyclops Cobalt-Nickel Project, recently renamed for its close proximity to the Cyclops mountain range, is situated on the north coast of Papua Province, Indonesia, a country ranked among the largest hosts of nickel laterite occurrences in the world. The project’s tidewater location allows for strategic access to China, the largest battery metals markets in the world.  An economic cobalt deposit at a location a short distance from most of the world’s operating battery production sites, along with most of the facilities being produced, would be a coveted asset. After raising $8.3 million, Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) CEO Ranjeet Sundher and his team are out to make Cyclops the cobalt project that the world needs. 

The nickel-cobalt laterites in the Cyclops mountains on the north shore of Indonesia had been explored by the Dutch as early as the 1950s. Laterite projects like the Cyclops were originally valued for their nickel content. Cobalt being an afterthought, exploration occurred at the Cyclops in fits and starts over the years as the nickel price gyrated.

The aggressive sampling, mapping, geophysics, and drilling efforts that began in April and June of this year, respectively, at Cyclops is designed to ascertain the veracity and extent of the 37 million tonnes historical estimate that the previous operators had calculated at 0.11% Co and 1.31% Ni (at a 0.8% Ni cut-off grade) in the 1970s, please see the historical estimate section below for more details. A defined nickel-cobalt deposit on the north shore of Papua Indonesia would be meaningful to battery makers, metals traders and equities speculators who are all watching closely. The drilling program is ongoing.

The State Of The Cobalt Trade

Pacific Rim isn’t the only company aggressively heading into Cobalt. The historical lack of dedicated exploration and development for cobalt and the sudden demand for the metal have created a popular trade, but access to it remains limited. There are a few previously active areas that mined cobalt as a byproduct being re-envisioned and re-opened, most notably First Cobalt’s activity in Cobalt, Ontario. The company has just completed an acquisition of Idaho-focused US Cobalt, giving it exposure to both of North America’s premier cobalt areas. At the production stage of cobalt equities, Katanga Mining has sustained investor interest, despite tremendous uncertainty surrounding the ownership and operational consistency of their flagship mine. Global Steel operator Vale-SA has effectively sold their cobalt exposure to Cobalt 27 (TSX.V:KBLT.V) and Wheaton Precious Metals to finance the Voisey’s Bay expansion. This appears to be the action of a trade that is popular, buzzy, but not yet crowded. Before long, the average investor may come to understand that materials like cobalt are a critical component in the battery-powered ecosystem, and the next wave of investment opportunity will have started to form. Investors accumulating now are trying to get the jump on top of a growing investment trend, where the headlines are all about cobalt, just like investors rode the first battery trend with lithium stocks. 

For a more in-depth look at Pacific Rim Cobalt (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT.CN) , please read the full report on Microsmallcap.com.  

 Historical Estimate - Pacific Rim Cobalt considers the cobalt and nickel tonnage and grade estimates contained herein to be historical estimates. The historical estimates are contained in the Summary Geologic Investigations, PT. Pacific Nikkel Indonesia 1969 – 1979 (Reynolds 1979). These historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM Definition Standards. These estimates were prepared in the 1980s prior to the adoption and implementation of NI 43-101. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and Pacific Rim Cobalt is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. More work, including but not limited to, drilling, will be required to conform the estimates to current CIM Definition Standards. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Company’s project. Efforts to obtain any additional information regarding relevant historical work is ongoing, although there are no assurances that this original data will be found. Pacific Rim Cobalt believes that the historical estimates are relevant to continuing exploration on the project. For more information please refer to our technical report, filed on SEDAR on December 8, 2017 and available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.

DISCLAIMER: Microsmallcap.com (MSC) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with MSC or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by MSC are solely those of MSC and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable MSC and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. MSC and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.
 
 The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author (MSC), and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author (MSC) has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, MSC, FNM, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer's securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment. FNM was not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release but was compensated forty four hundred dollars by MSC, a non-affiliated third party to distribute this release on behalf of Pacific Rim Cobalt
 
 FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
 
 This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and MSC and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements.
 
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New Supply Chain Needed as Congo Cobalt Buyers Face Child Labor Scrutiny

Palm Beach FL – July 11, 2018 - Microsmallcap.com News Commentary for Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT.CN)  - Cobalt is unrivalled among metals in the key battery metric of energy density. Without it, your smartphone battery can run out by lunchtime, and an electric vehicle (EV) would need a 4-hour recharge in the middle of a 100-mile ride from New York to Philadelphia. Industry players such as  eCobalt Solutions Inc. (OTCQX:ECSIF) (TSX:ECS), First Cobalt Corp. (OTCQX:FTSSF) (TSX:FCC), Clean TeQ Holdings Limited (OTCQX:CTEQF) (TSX:CLQ) (ASX:CLQ), Fortune Minerals Limited (OTCQX:FTMDF) (TSX:FT) and Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) are exploring global solutions to an expected cobalt shortage. 

Shortage Leaves Market Heavily Reliant on Congo Supply 

The importance of cobalt in the lithium-ion battery has caught the mining industry off-guard. A sudden spike in demand for smartphones led manufacturers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where cobalt-rich ore is often mined in precarious conditions and sometimes using children. 

Cobalt prices surpassed a ten-year high of $90,000 per metric ton on the London Metal Exchange this year due to shortages, and the price has almost quadrupled since 2016. This has created a conundrum for major cobalt users including Apple Inc. Faced with greater scrutiny, Apple said it will buy material directly from mining companies to ensure it comes from sustainable sources. 

A new generation of mining entrepreneurs are looking to convince the automobile and electronics industries that they can build a new and more sustainable supply chain.  Other Top 10 producing countries still include areas of high geopolitical risk including Cuba, Madagascar and Russia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  

One such company is Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) that has purchased five cobalt-nickel targets in Indonesia spanning 5,000 hectares. Previous drilling at the Cyclops project indicates a resource of 37 million tonnes of 0.11% cobalt and 1.31% nickel, see the historical estimates section below for more information. Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT)  is currently drilling to further define the historic estimate this year and seeks an offtake agreement. Several areas of the Cyclops projects have yet to be explored, leaving the potential for further discoveries.  

Pacific Rim is looking to join a market dominated by UK-listed Glencore, which produces 27,400 tons from mostly DRC mines, according to S&P Global Intelligence.  Second and third ranked producers China Molybdenum and Fleurette Group also source ore from the DRC. Brazil’s Vale comes fourth and Gecamines, a DRC-based commodity trading company, is ranked fifth.  

Pacific Rim is currently looking for a new source of untapped cobalt, often found in nickel laterite deposits that are scattered among Pacific Rim islands such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and parts of Australia. Some of these resources were previously explored in the 1990s but never developed because the pre-smartphone value of cobalt was close to zero. Project economics could be highly favorable, as nickel will also benefit strongly from broader use of EV vehicles.  

Industry peers are finding offtake partners that allow projects to be financed, a trend that could benefit Pacific Rim. Australian Mines Ltd. signed a long-term supply deal with SK Innovation Co., South Korea’s top oil producer, for its Sconi nickel and cobalt mine project in Queensland state. Vale recently signed a $700 million deal in June to sell future cobalt output from its Voisey’s Bay mine in Newfoundland. 

“It appears that the raw material supply chain for the battery sector is becoming increasingly recognized as an opportunity with significant growth potential,” said Ranjeet Sundher, Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) President & CEO. 

Smartphones Aside, Demand for Cobalt is Projected to Triple 

The world currently ships 1.4 billion smartphones annually and that market is expected to grow 3% in 2019, according to consultants IDC. However, the bulk of future demand lies in EV battery usage. More than a dozen countries, including China, legislated for entire EV car adoption in a 2024-2025 timeframe last year, according to Ken Hoffman, a basic materials expert at McKinsey & Co. 

The average EV contains 84 kilograms of copper, 30 kilograms of nickel and 8 kilograms of cobalt, according to Glencore. If EVs represent 30% of the global car fleet in 2030, that will require 314,000 tons a year of new supply of cobalt, more than triple what it is now, Glencore said. 

Cobalt demand for EVs is expected to surge to 115,000 tons per year in 2025 from 55,000 tons a year in 2017, according to Darton Commodities. China is leading the demand for cobalt consumption and is on track to use over 8,000 tons per year alone by 2021 for EV assembly lines.  

Even with lower proportions of cobalt in the modern battery mix, rising demand for large electrical storage solutions such as Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada could boost cobalt usage. The metal remains an essential alloy ingredient for products like jet engines and medical devices. 

The likes of Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) hope to ultimately offer a diverse and safer source of supply of cobalt than the DRC, especially as there is a drive from major global corporations to ensure that their supply chains are free of labor abuse. The Cyclops project is located close to the port of Jayapura on the island province of Papua and provides good future port access to Chinese markets. 

Other Dominant Industry Players  

CleanTeq (OTCQX:CTEQF) (TSX:CLQ) (ASX:CLQ) is developing the Clean TeQ Sunrise nickel-cobalt-scandium laterite project in New South Wales, Australia. The company also owns a proprietary hydrometallurgical process to treat ore at the facility that will be dedicated to the supply of battery metals. CleanTeq also owns a wastewater treatment business that recycles waters in power, mining and industrial applications. The company has signed an offtake agreement with Beijing Easpring last year, a five-year agreement for 20% of the company’s cobalt and nickel sulphate production. 

eCobalt Solutions Inc. (OTCQX:ECSIF) (TSX:ECS) has permitting in place to redevelop a former a cobalt mine in Idaho. The company is due to start production in 2019. The company has spent $120 million developing the project over the past 20 years. The Idaho Cobalt Project also contains copper and gold reserves. eCobalt has signed letters of intent with several potential offtake partners and is seeking to convert one or more of those into a long-term offtake agreement. 

First Cobalt Corp. (OTCQX:FTSSF) (TSX:FCC) is developing three cobalt projects in both Canada and the US, including the 727-hectare Iron Creek project in Idaho which has 9,100 meters of historic drilling carried out by major mining company Noranda. Exploration concessions in Ontario total more than 10,000 hectares and include a former mill and permitted cobalt refinery in the historic Cobalt Camp. The project also contains 0.3% copper besides 0.59% cobalt grade average.  

Fortune Minerals (OTCQX:FTMDF) (TSX:FT) is a company developing the NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper mine and mill project in the Canadian Northwest Territories. The company discovered the deposit in 1996. Fortune Minerals also plans to build a refinery in Saskatchewan, Canada. NICO holds more than 10% of global bismuth reserves. The company also holds other mining assets in the Northwest Territories.

A New Generation of Mines 

With artisanal miners in the DRC acting as a supplier of last resort, the mining industry needs to quickly develop a new generation of cobalt mines that will create a reliable supply chain for global manufacturers.  

Electronics manufacturers such as Apple Inc., and carmakers are under growing pressure to ensure that their supply chains are free of materials sourced from underage or abused labor. The industry needs explorers with profiles like Pacific Rim Cobalt (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) working to identify cobalt sources that meet the environmental and social criteria of the 21^st century.   

For a more in-depth look at Pacific Rim Cobalt (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT) , please read the full report on Microsmallcap.com.  

Historical Estimate

Pacific Rim Cobalt considers the cobalt and nickel tonnage and grade estimates contained herein to be historical estimates. The historical estimates are contained in the Summary Geologic Investigations, PT. Pacific Nikkel Indonesia 1969 – 1979 (Reynolds 1979). These historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM Definition Standards. These estimates were prepared in the 1980s prior to the adoption and implementation of NI 43-101. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and Pacific Rim Cobalt is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. More work, including but not limited to, drilling, will be required to conform the estimates to current CIM Definition Standards. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Company’s project. Efforts to obtain any additional information regarding relevant historical work is ongoing, although there are no assurances that this original data will be found. Pacific Rim Cobalt believes that the historical estimates are relevant to continuing exploration on the project. For more information please refer to our technical report, filed on SEDAR on December 8, 2017 and available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.

Pacific Rim Cobalt Appoints SE Asia-based Executive G. B. Fielding to Board
 

Vancouver, British Columbia -- July 05, 2018 -- Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT.CN) (the “Company” or “Pacific Rim Cobalt”) a resource company with assets located proximal to the world’s largest cobalt market, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Geoffrey Baille Fielding to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Fielding was educated at the Sorbonne in Paris and has an LLB from the faculty of law at the London School of Economics. He was an equity partner at Grenfell & Colegrave, one of the oldest city of London stockholding firms before the company was acquired by CIBC, Canada's largest retail bank. As a London director of CIBC's investment division, Mr. Fielding founded the overseas investment division in the Caribbean where over a three-year period he built up and managed funds valued at over USD$1-billion.

In 2007, Mr. Fielding moved to Southeast Asia where he is now based. He is currently president and chief executive officer of a Chinese investment management company and chairman of a Malaysian wealth fund. He represents both companies as well as several other Hong Kong and international clients regarding strategic investment opportunities.

Ranjeet Sundher, President of Pacific Rim Cobalt notes, “I am delighted to welcome Mr. Fielding as the most recent addition to our board today. His appointment is a singular opportunity that will pay dividends in terms of increasing our presence in China. Our strategy has always been focused on gaining a foothold in this rapidly growing marketplace. China is a global leader in the production of batteries to service the burgeoning electric vehicle industry and Mr. Fielding brings extraordinary access to numerous market influencers both in Hong Kong and across the nation. We look forward to working closely with him as we continue our quest to build demonstrable asset worth and ultimately shareholder value in what appears to be a robust battery minerals sector for the foreseeable future.”

About Pacific Rim Cobalt (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) (OTCQB:PCRCF) Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. is a Canadian publicly listed company currently focused on the development of cobalt projects within Indonesia. Its Cyclops project encompasses cobalt and nickel mineralization as well as excellent infrastructure for year-round development activities. The Company believes cobalt will be the next dominant investment trend related to the critical components of lithium-ion batteries. Cobalt is currently in a global supply deficit, has a vulnerable supply chain, and is part of an emerging sector with extraordinary potential. Pacific Rim believes that the quality of our assets and our proximity to markets give us the opportunity to be a leader in the cobalt development space. For more information, visit: www.pacificrimcobalt.com.

CONTACT
Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp.

Ranjeet Sundher – President and CEO
(604) 922-8272
rsundher@pacificrimcobalt.com

Steve Vanry – CFO & Director
(604) 922-8272
steve@vanrycap.com

Sean Bromley – Director & Investor Contact
(778) 985-8934
sean@theparmargroup.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in both Pacific Rim Cobalt’s continuous disclosure and periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding future oriented events and other statements that are not facts. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Pacific Rim Cobalt operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors. Although Pacific Rim Cobalt has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Pacific Rim Cobalt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Pacific Rim Cobalt does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company herein.

Source: Pacific Rim Cobalt|

 

Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. Launches Shareholder Communications Initiative
 

Vancouver, British Columbia -- June 28, 2018 -- Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT.CN) (the “Company” or “Pacific Rim Cobalt”) a Canadian-based exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of production grade cobalt deposits, a key raw material input for the growing lithium-ion battery industry, today announced the launch of an expanded shareholder communications initiative designed to provide improved visibility into Pacific Rim Cobalt’s current and planned operations. The initiative was prompted by an increase in shareholder inquiries & the Company's desire for improved transparency for its stakeholders.

The program is comprehensive and includes further updates to the Company’s website & investor relations portal, consistent shareholder messaging in the form of video & blog posts, quarterly investor conference calls with Company management, and an active blog with articles provided by in-house contributors, as well as an expanded and comprehensive social media strategy. In order to execute on this program, the Company will seek to increase its shareholder communications with the launch of new features each month. In support of its shareholder relations initiative, the Company retained leading corporate communications firm, Midam Ventures, LLC. The firm acts at arm's length to the Company and is paid a monthly cash retainer.

To the knowledge of the Company, Midam Ventures, LLC and its principals do not own any of the Company's securities. Further, beyond those transactions disclosed on SEDI.ca, the Company has no knowledge of any directors trading the Company’s securities within the last 90 days. Since June 28, 2018, Midam Ventures LLC has arranged for dissemination of third party research articles to be published on valueinvestor.com independent from the Company, while allowing the Company to retain editorial control to ensure consistency across all articles and to ensure that all published material was derived from information in the public domain such as the Company's website and public filings found on www.sedar.com.

Furthermore, the Company has engaged Aaron Wong to provide investor relations services pursuant to an investor relations consulting agreement dated June 28, 2018. Mr. Wong currently holds 17,000 shares of the Company and has no other direct or indirect interests in the Company.

The Company believes any current share volatility may be related to the Company’s recent press releases announcing the undertaking of a processing options study (Feb. 26); advancement of its 2018 work program (March 28); commencement of a drill program (April 25); and commencement of a topographical study (June 11); commencement of its drill program (June 26); as well as news of the company being listed on the OTCQB, rather than any quantifiable impact from articles & efforts undertaken by Midam Ventures LLC.

Additionally, the Company, subject to regulatory approval, has retained Venture Liquidity Providers Inc. (“VLP”) to initiate its market-making service to provide assistance in maintaining an orderly trading market for the common shares of the Company.

The market-making service will be undertaken by VLP through a registered broker, W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd., in compliance with the applicable policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange and other applicable laws. The agreement may be terminated at any time by the Company or VLP. The Company and VLP act at arm's length, and VLP has no present interest, directly or indirectly, in the company or its securities. The finances and the shares required for the market-making service are provided by W.D. Latimer. The fee paid by the Company to VLP is for services only.

VLP is a specialized consulting firm based in Toronto providing a variety of services focused on TSX Venture Exchange and Canadian Securities Exchange-listed issuers.

About Pacific Rim Cobalt (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) (OTCQB:PCRCF)
Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. is a Canadian publicly listed company currently focused on the development of cobalt projects within Indonesia. Its Cyclops project encompasses cobalt and nickel mineralization as well as excellent infrastructure for year-round development activities. The Company believes cobalt will be the next dominant investment trend related to the critical components of lithium-ion batteries. Cobalt is currently in a global supply deficit, has a vulnerable supply chain, and is part of an emerging sector with extraordinary potential. Pacific Rim Cobalt believes that the quality of our assets and our proximity to markets give us the opportunity to be a leader in the cobalt development space. For more information, visit: www.pacificrimcobalt.com.

CONTACT
Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp.

Ranjeet Sundher – President and CEO
(604) 922-8272
rsundher@pacificrimcobalt.com

Steve Vanry – CFO & Director
(604) 922-8272
steve@vanrycap.com

Sean Bromley – Director & Investor Contact
(778) 985-8934
sean@theparmargroup.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in both Pacific Rim Cobalt’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding future oriented events and other statements that are not facts. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Pacific Rim Cobalt operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors. Although Pacific Rim Cobalt has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Pacific Rim Cobalt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Pacific Rim Cobalt does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company herein.

Source: Pacific Rim Cobalt

 

Pacific Rim Cobalt Commences Drilling at Indonesian Cobalt-Nickel Project
 

Vancouver, British Columbia -- June 26, 2018 -- Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:PCRCF) (CSE:BOLT.CN) (the “Company” or “Pacific Rim Cobalt”) a resource company with assets located proximal to the world’s largest cobalt market, today announced the commencement of drilling activities at its Cyclops Cobalt-Nickel Project (formerly known as the TNM Project) located in Papua Province, Indonesia.

The Cyclops Cobalt-Nickel Project, recently renamed for its close proximity to the Cyclops mountain range, is situated on the north coast of Papua Province, Indonesia, a country ranked among the largest hosts of nickel laterite occurrences in the world. The project’s tidewater location offers strategic access to China, the largest battery metals markets in the world.

Pacific Rim Cobalt’s efforts will focus both on historically identified and drill-tested prospects as well as previously un-drilled prospects. The goal of the program is to establish a maiden compliant resource on the project as well as to identify target locations for extraction of mini bulk samples required for upcoming metallurgical and process testing. The program will be ongoing and during the next 6 months is scheduled to include approximately 150 holes totaling 5,000 meters of drilling.

“With the commencement of our inaugural drill program guided by historical data, we are optimistic about the unique possibility of developing this project into an asset that will add shareholder value and position the company to play a future role in the battery metals supply chain,” remarked Ranjeet Sundher, CEO of Pacific Rim Cobalt. “We expect the near-surface nature of cobalt/nickel mineralization at the Cyclops project will lend itself well to low-cost, logistically straightforward drilling. Thus, we anticipate the opportunity to undertake a resource calculation study, as well as ongoing metallurgy and process option testing, will present itself in the near future. It's going to be a busy year ahead, and we look forward to getting the drills turning and building value."

The project area benefits from excellent infrastructure including proximity to a workforce and supplies, sealed roads, ocean access, electrical grid power, nearby port facility and gentle topography. The road system enables year-round access to the project and connects it with the large town of Sentani, located about 15 kilometres to the east, and with Jayapura, the capital city of Papua province, located about 40 kilometres to the east.

Drilling will consist of shallow holes (up to 35-metre vertical depth each), which, based on historical information, is sufficient to intersect both the upper limonite zone, as well as the lower nickel saprolite zone. The Cyclops project was extensively explored by previous operators with a focus on nickel mineralization, during which time they completed 856 drill holes and 26 test pits.

The Company has also begun detailed drone-controlled topographic and photographic surveys. This information will provide control for ongoing development activities that include geological mapping, test pitting and diamond drilling.

An operations office in the capital city of Jayapura and a field operations facility in Sentani have now been established and are operational. The field operations facility will house sample preparation and storage as well as drilling equipment and consumables. The sample preparation setup is under construction and is nearing completion with related equipment on order. In addition, the Company has established an office in Jakarta for finance/accounting and support services for field exploration activities.

A core team of Company professionals together with geological contractors and local labor is already operating in the field. The team covers the key functions of geological support, drilling support, regional government relations, local community relations, logistics and finance.

About Cobalt and Nickel
Cobalt, a key ingredient in electric car batteries, has quadrupled in price in the last two years. Chinese new electric vehicle subsidies prioritize pure electric vehicles with higher driving ranges and energy density, two of the main advantages of cobalt and nickel. According to Bloomberg: "China is leaving the West behind in the race for electric-car raw materials. China is first out of the blocks in the global race to secure raw material supplies critical for the batteries that will power the electric vehicles of the future."

The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday (2018-05-23) edition that Cobalt 27 Capital (KBLT on the TSXV) agreed to pay $145-million (Canadian) for the right to the cobalt and nickel from the Ramu mine in Papua New Guinea, marking the first streaming deal of its kind in the battery-metals space.

According to BMI Research (http://www.mining.com/indonesia-lead-nickel-production-bmi/), by 2027 global annual nickel production should reach 2.9mnt. In the firm’s view, Indonesia would continue to lead the way after having surpassed the Philippines as the largest global producer in 2017. This transcontinental country will also be the best performing one in terms of nickel production growth during 2018-2027 thanks in part to the moderation of its export ban.

Throughout the period 2018-2027, BMI sees Indonesia’s nickel industry growing production by 8.1%, in part benefiting from stricter environmental regulations in its biggest regional competitor, the Philippines. This development would increase the rate at which Indonesia regains part of the Chinese market share it had previously lost to its neighbour.

Historical Estimate
A historical estimate, which dates from before the requirement for uniform regulatory compliance and therefore fails to meet the current standards of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), is being referenced as a guide for Pacific Rim Cobalt's 2018 work program. This early data employed measurements still in use today and indicated mineralization from surface with an estimated potential of 37 million tonnes of 0.11 per cent cobalt and 1.31 per cent nickel at a 0.8-per-cent-nickel-cut-off grade. The Company intends to validate the resource and, where possible, expand upon the historical estimate, as only five of the nine known cobalt/nickel occurrences were the subject of the historical studies. The Company affirms this data in no way implies an estimated resource valuation but are offered as a basis for its current exploratory efforts and approach.

Pacific Rim Cobalt considers the cobalt and nickel tonnage and grade estimates contained herein to be historical estimates. The historical estimates are contained in the summary geologic investigations, PT Pacific Nikkel Indonesia 1969 (Reynolds, 1979). These historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM (Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum) definition standards on mineral resources and mineral reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101 and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM definition standards. These estimates were prepared in the 1980s prior to the adoption and implementation of NI 43-101. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources, and Pacific Rim Cobalt is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. More work, including, but not limited to drilling will be required to conform the estimates to current CIM definition standards. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Company's project. Efforts to obtain any additional information regarding relevant historical work are continuing, although there are no assurances that these original data will be found. Pacific Rim Cobalt believes that the historical estimates are relevant to continuing exploration on the project. For more information, please refer to the technical report, filed on SEDAR on Dec. 8, 2017, and available under the company's profile at SEDAR.

Qualified Person

Garry Clark, PGeo, independent director of Pacific Rim Cobalt, is the qualified person as defined in NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content in this presentation.

About Pacific Rim Cobalt (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) (OTCQB:PCRCF) Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. is a Canadian publicly listed company currently focused on the development of cobalt projects within Indonesia. Its Cyclops project encompasses cobalt and nickel mineralization as well as excellent infrastructure for year-round development activities. The Company believes cobalt will be the next dominant investment trend related to the critical components of lithium-ion batteries. Cobalt is currently in a global supply deficit, has a vulnerable supply chain, and is part of an emerging sector with extraordinary potential. Pacific Rim believes that the quality of our assets and our proximity to markets give us the opportunity to be a leader in the cobalt development space. For more information, visit: www.pacificrimcobalt.com.

CONTACT
Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp.

Ranjeet Sundher – President and CEO
(604) 922-8272
rsundher@pacificrimcobalt.com

Steve Vanry – CFO & Director
(604) 922-8272
steve@vanrycap.com

Sean Bromley – Director & Investor Contact
(778) 985-8934
sean@theparmargroup.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in both Pacific Rim Cobalt’s continuous disclosure and periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding future oriented events and other statements that are not facts. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Pacific Rim Cobalt operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors. Although Pacific Rim Cobalt has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Pacific Rim Cobalt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Pacific Rim Cobalt does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company herein.

Source: Pacific Rim Cobalt

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About Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp.:

Our Company

Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of production grade cobalt deposits, a key raw material input for the growing lithium-ion battery industry.

Leading the way in cobalt consumption is China, a powerhouse that is on-track to use over 8,000 tonnes of Cobalt annually by 2021 – just for electric vehicle (EV) production alone. With an aggressive program underway to dramatically increase EV production and the growing adoption of Lithium-Ion batteries for an ever-broader list of applications, the country currently is the largest consumer of cobalt in the world and is projected to lead that category for many years to come.

While much of the world’s supply of cobalt is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), that nation has a well-documented and problematic history of political and economic instability, ethical concerns regarding child labour, and further suffers from periodic near-pandemic health issues. The DRC is also a significant distance from any of the world’s major consumers of cobalt, with significant cost factors inherent in managing a supply chain subject to periodic interruptions.

Pacific Rim Cobalt is seizing the opportunity of this unprecedented demand for cobalt, and has concluded that strategic access to major markets offers the most important factor to servicing the demand for this critical metal. As such, the Company identified and acquired initial assets in Indonesia offering near surface, strong nickel-cobalt mineralization and located adjacent to established infrastructure. Of critical importance is that the project is located well within economically attractive ocean going transportation range to industrial Asia, the largest cobalt markets on the planet.

The Company intends to continue exploration across prospective areas of interest throughout the region in order to build on its initial asset base and to grow a cobalt portfolio as a strategy to create shareholder value.

Overview

> Project Location: North Coast of Papua, Indonesia
> Project Area: 5000Ha with 9 prospects, 5 drill tested and with known cobalt-nickel deposits
> Historical Estimate of 37 million tonnes of 0.11% Co and 1.31% Ni at a 0.8% Ni cut-off grade
> High-Grade Drill Intercept Highlights: 8m @0.18%, 13m @0.15%, and 10m @0.19% Co
> Rapid Path to Development: Use of Proceeds to conduct mine planning
> Strategic Location: Close proximity to China, the world’s largest consumer of cobalt
> Favourable Geology with shallow mineralization
> Exploration Upside: Mineralization is open at depth, and along strike, posing potential for expansion

The Company is treating the cobalt and nickel tonnage and grade estimates above as historical estimates. The historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101“) and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM Definition Standards. They were prepared in the 1970s prior to the adoption and implementation of NI 43-101.

A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and the Company is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. More work, including, but not limited to, drilling, will be required to conform the estimates to current CIM Definition Standards. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Property. The Company has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical estimates or other information contained in this press release nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work in order to verify the accuracy of the information. The Company believes that the historical estimates and other information contained in this press release are relevant to continuing exploration on the Property.

Management of the Company is relying on the historical estimates contained in the Pacific Nikkel report because the authors were experts and used industry standard procedures at the time. The historical estimates are relevant to the Company’s future exploration programs because they identify significant mineralization that will be the target of this exploration program.

No subsequent resource estimations have been attempted. Efforts to obtain any additional information regarding relevant historical work is ongoing, although there are no assurances that this original data will be found.

Cobalt is the next investment trend as a critical component of lithium-ion batteries; is currently in a supply deficit, has a vulnerable supply chain, and overlooked by many investors.

Pacific Rim Cobalt is poised to leverage the global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy

Pacific Rim Cobalt – TNM Project Area:
Depapre District, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, Republic of Indonesia

> Uniquely positioned in a region with potentially the largest source of cobalt outside of Africa
> Strategically located near China, the world’s largest cobalt buyer
> Laterite (iron-hosted) mineral resource, rich in cobalt and nickel

Indonesia Nickel-Cobalt Potential

> Highly prospective geology and tropical environment results in numerous commercially suitable high-grade nickel-cobalt-bearing laterite deposits.
> Produced 32% of the world’s nickel as laterite ore in 2013.
> High Quality: 40% of the global total resources of high-grade lateritic ore (>1.8%).
> Indonesia production focused on high grade nickel in saprolite for pyro-metallurgical processing.
> Cobalt resources not yet exploited in the limonite zone which offers alternate processing opportunities.

SOURCE: http://pacificrimcobalt.com/

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