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Reuters – Panasonic said that it could not determine how much cobalt used in the batteries that it manufactures for Tesla cars comes from Cuba, a country subject to sanctions by the United States , and that this doubt led to suspend
The Japanese electronics giant, exclusive supplier of batteries to Tesla, made these comments after Reuters questions about whether the batteries contain Cuban cobalt.
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Two knowledgeable sources told Reuters that some of the cobalt used by Panasonic to make Tesla batteries is mined in Cuban mines by the Canadian firm Sherritt International.
Panasonic stated that he was unable to establish how much Cuban cobalt has ended – through the Canadian business – in the batteries that he sold on the US market "because of the It used sources from its suppliers at various stages of manufacturing processes."
"Panasonic has decided to suspend its relationship with its Canadian supplier," said a spokeswoman, without identify the company. He also added that Panasonic has used cobalt from the Canadian company for batteries used in Tesla Model S and Model X, but only since February 2009.
"Panasonic sought advice from the Department's Foreign Assets Control Bureau US Treasury (FOCA) on its interpretation of the scope of the US ban on imports of Cuban origin, "he said.
When Reuters asked him, Tesla did not discuss whether his batteries contain Cuban cobalt or whether the company could potentially violate the penalties. A spokesman said: "Tesla is trying to approach zero use of cobalt in the near future."
Sherritt declined to comment when he sold cobalt to Panasonic. "We do not answer questions about specific customer activities," said spokesman Joe Racanelli. "We have been working in Cuba for 25 years and we sell our Clbad 1 nickel and cobalt, refined at our facility in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, to customers in Europe and Asia."
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