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.
Although it does not yet produce lithium, the Democratic Republic of Congo looks set to become one of the world’s suppliers of this metal, classified as strategic by the Congolese authorities in 2018, by as early as 2022.
It was not until the 2010s that the DRC became interested in lithium and granted mining Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Africa. Unlocked.
Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Africa. Unlocked. DRC has the potential to become the world’s top suppliers of lithium, as early as 2022.
“The DRC produces about 70 per cent of global cobalt but captures just 3 percent of the battery and electric vehicle value chain.
This is three times cheaper than what a similar plant in the U.S. would cost. A similar plant in China and Poland would cost an estimated $112 million and $65 million, respectively. Precursor material produced at plants in the DRC could be cost competitive with material produced in China and Poland but with a lower environmental footprint.