Cell block lithium ion battery Central African Republic

Can the Democratic Republic of the Congo produce lithium-ion battery cathode precursor materials?

London and Kinshasa, November 24, 2021 – The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) can leverage its abundant cobalt resources and hydroelectric power to become a low-cost and low-emissions producer of lithium-ion battery cathode precursor materials.

Which countries are developing a lithium-ion battery value chain?

Nevertheless, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) places the lithium-ion battery value chain as a priority. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia recently signed a memorandum of understanding to develop this value chain. South Africa and Morocco have announced plans to build LIB gigafactories.

What are some examples of a global demand for lithium-ion batteries?

Batteries are one example of this trend. The worldwide demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is expected to reach 13.5 million metric tonnes by 2030, implying a large increase in the demand for African CRMs including lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite and phosphate.

Are cell component and battery manufacturers vertically integrated?

Cell component and battery manufacturers are highly specialised and increasingly vertically integrated firms. This means that companies traditionally specialised in downstream products, such as electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, also control activities that occur further upstream, including mining.