Republic of Congo Material Battery Outline Example

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.

How does the global production network of lithium-ion batteries connect conflicts?

Second, I aim to reveal how the global production network of lithium-ion batteries connects conflicts over the expansion of industrial mining in the Global South to struggles over the use and sourcing of raw materials for energy transitions in the Global North.

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.

How can Africa extend its access to the battery industry?

In so doing, the country and the rest of Africa can extend their access from the USD271 billion battery precursor segment to the more lucrative USD1.4 trillion combined battery cell production and cell assembly segments of the battery minerals global value chain.

How cobalt mining has changed in the DRC?

Cobalt mining is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the industry is highly contested. I will show how the increase in demand for cobalt has changed mining in the DRC and caused different types of conflicts at various points of the global production network of lithium-ion batteries.

How much would a DRC plant cost?

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.