Calls for Zim to invest in battery metals intensified
As the stampede for the adoption of clean energy and the creation of Li-ion batteries intensifies, the call for Zimbabweans to invest in battery metals has grown as the country eyes to benefit and satisfy the world’s growing demand for Battery technology.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Battery metals are the raw materials used in the production of batteries such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper and graphite. These battery metals are increasingly used in batteries for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and other applications.
According to experts the transfer to electric vehicles will not be possible without tons of new sources of copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium because large amounts of copper, nickel and lithium are needed to build just one EV.
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development Chairperson Hon Edmond Mkaratigwa said it is very critical for the youth in Zimbabwe to be actively involved in world trends especially investing in battery metals. He said the metals have a big role in the world’s future therefore the youth should be active so that the country will not be left behind.
“The youths of Zimbabwe are naturally the future of the country. Those metals have a big role in the future globally. The Zimbabwean youths should be courageous to venture into ordinarily unchartered waters and tap into the national vision of a desired middle-income economy by 2030. This is done by taking part in nation-building by identifying government programmes in all sectors of the economy and taking part. Initiating new approaches is also acceptable especially since youths are getting more and more exposed to the international community and rich opportunities. The youths must also not fear to try and test what they learn in lecture theatres and what they dream, into practice. So basically, they should be forthcoming and interactive with the government system and processes, so that they access what is available while also seeking to perfect the existing, in our process of growth as a country,” Hon Mkaratigwa said.
According to the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Dr Polite Kambamura, the government’s thrust is to overtake Australia as the biggest lithium producer in the world.
He said that value addition of lithium is important as the country seeks to maximize and get a true value for its lithium.
“We look forward to becoming a world leader in Lithium production. Government’s main thrust is on local Lithium value addition and beneficiation,” Dr Kambamura said
Australia Stock Exchange-listed mining and exploration junior Prospect Resources is confident that the exploration of battery and electrification metals such as cobalt, lithium, manganese and nickel in Zimbabwe can bring extremely significant results.
According to the company’s Corporate Development Manager Mr Nick Rathjen, the firm is highly motivated that Zimbabwe is the best mining destination for battery and electrification metals that are targeted towards the world agenda to go green.
“Zimbabwe is highly prospective for targeted battery and electrification metals,” Rathjen said.
According to one of the country’s renowned economic experts who is also the Chairperson of Associated African Nickel Resources Ltd (“AANR”), Ben Mbanga, there should be a huge appetite by the country to tap into battery metals as the popularity of the minerals is on the rise. Mbanga suggested that pension funds can be used in the adoption of this clean energy revolution.
Mbanga indicated that AANR is on an expansion drive and is looking to spread its wings across the nickel value chain as it will help the company tap into the ever-growing Li-ion battery in line with the global shift towards clean energy alternatives.
“AANR is therefore focused on clean Nickel Sulphide deposits in Africa to yield traceable, sustainable EV-Battery Grade Nickel Sulphate and Cobalt Sulphate (99.5% pure). This has seen the company advancing rapidly in exploring for nickel and other Li-Ion Battery technology required metals to advance the world’s increasing demand for green energy, “he said.
Rising and promising young mining prospector Mr Nyasha Magadhi called on the youth in Zimbabwe to consider crowdfunding to fund lithium and copper projects in order to protect the future of Zimbabwe as the world is moving to clean energy.
He said it is important for young people who are Zimbabwe’s future to lead in copper, lithium among other metals’ investments for the country to benefit from the popularity of clean energy future that continues to rise with Electric Vehicles (EVs) considered the future in the transport sector when the world is prioritizing green energy.
“Zimbabwe is blessed with minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium which are very critical in the world’s transformation towards a clean energy future.
“As the youth, we should start projects to mine these metals which are sought after in the green revolution, crowdfunding is the best thing we can do, we can start with as little as US$100 per person in our 50s or 100S and the project thereafter funds itself. It is possible, that many successful companies out there have more than 1000 shareholders but are doing just fine. We can do it, we can be the pioneers in Zimbabwe if it was never done.
“This project can become big to reach a world-class status. I, therefore, call upon all the youth in Zimbabwe to join me and others as we seek to benefit from our mineral resources” the 21-year-old Magadhi said.
This article first appeared in the Mine Entra 2022 Mining Zimbabwe Magazine