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.

Should lithium-ion batteries be expanded to DRC and Africa?

“As substantiated by the BloombergNEF report, the prospect of the expanding the value chain of development of lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles value chains to DRC and Africa is both financially and environmentally appealing,” commented Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

Is DRC a good destination for sustainable battery manufacturing?

Study identifies DRC as a favorable destination for the manufacturing of sustainable battery materials used in high-nickel batteries

Could African countries play a major role in the lithium-ion battery supply chain?

African countries could play a major role in the lithium-ion battery supply chain by taking advantage of their abundant natural resources and onshoring more of the value chain.

How much cobalt does the DRC produce?

“The DRC produces about 70 per cent of global cobalt but captures just 3 percent of the battery and electric vehicle value chain.

Why does the DRC rely on hydroelectric power plants?

This is due to the DRC’s proximity to cathode raw materials and heavy reliance on hydroelectric power plants.