* China's Wanbao Mining said on Monday it had produced the first batch of cobalt hydroxide - a chemical used in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) - from its Pumpi mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on March 12.

* Wanbao, a subsidiary of state-owned Chinese military supplier Norinco, said the Pumpi copper-cobalt project in Kolwezi has now been fully commissioned following the production of the first copper cathodes six months ago.

* Prices for cobalt have gained some 65% so far in 2021, hitting two-year highs of around $53,000 a tonne on resurgent EV demand in China and Europe.

* Pumpi, in which Wanbao has a 75% stake, is designed to produce around 5,000 tonnes of cobalt hydroxide per year on a metal content basis; Morocco's Managem holds 20% and the DRC government 5%.

(Reporting by Tom Daly, editing by Louise Heavens) ((tom.daly@thomsonreuters.com; +86 10 5669 2119;))