Will Zambia partner with DRC to produce electric vehicles?

Zambia says it will seek Western lenders for its plans to partner with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to jointly start producing electric vehicles batteries and cement a firm position in the global supply chain.

What is the 'Republic of Zambia & DRC Battery Council' project?

The project, called the “Republic of Zambia and DRC Battery Council”, will be implemented on two sites, one in the Congolese province of Haut-Katanga and the second in Copperbelt, a border region (Zambia) particularly rich in mineral deposits, including copper.

How will precursor production benefit the DRC and Zambia?

People in the DRC and Zambia could benefit greatly from precursor production in their countries, particularly if the associated energy and transport infrastructure is leveraged for wider use. However, government efforts in other policy areas will be at least as important.

Will Zambia benefit from a mineral beneficiation agreement?

“We have been advocating for the mineral beneficiation and this value addition will benefit both countries” Mr. Sagar added. Bank of Zambia Governor, Denny Kalyalya said Zambia has depended on imports for a long time and that the agreement will increase foreign exchange inflow in the long run.

Will Zambia meet its own nickel production needs?

First Quantum’s large nickel mine, Enterprise, started production in Zambia this year, which will add a massive 30,000 t a year on average. Nevertheless, this volume may still be insufficient for Zambia to meet the precursor plant’s needs on its own even if refining facilities were constructed and all production was supplied to the plant.

Does Zambia produce nickel & manganese sulfate?

Production of nickel and manganese sulfate is less certain, however. Zambia produced around 4,000 t of nickel in 2022. First Quantum’s large nickel mine, Enterprise, started production in Zambia this year, which will add a massive 30,000 t a year on average.