USA: Yellen's African tour to counter Chinese influence
US Finance Minister Janet Yellen flew on Tuesday for an 11-day visit to several African countries, after a detour via Switzerland, to strengthen ties with the United States on a continent where China has become a major player.
After a first stage in Switzerland, where the Treasury Secretary will meet Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He in Zurich, Ms. Yellen will travel to Senegal, Zambia and then South Africa.
A visit which comes a few weeks after the holding, in December, of the Africa-United States summit in Washington, during which the White House announced investments of several billion dollars over the years to come.
As China and Russia seek to increase their influence in Africa, the United States finds itself in a defensive position, trying to defend its position on the continent.
*To Remind,
Electric batteries: the USA publishes the memorandum of understanding signed with the DRC and Zambia
The US State Department released Wednesday, January 18, 2023, the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, on the sidelines of the USA-Africa Summit, for the development of the battery value chain. of electric vehicles.
This MoU supports the DRC and Zambia's goal of building a productive supply chain from mine to assembly line, while committing to meet international standards to prevent, detect and engage. prosecution to fight corruption throughout this process.
According to Washington, the US private sector is a tremendous resource, both for technical knowledge and funding, for business development every step of the way.
The Biden-Harris administration assures that it will work with the DRC and Zambia to ensure that the private sector has a level playing field to participate in these projects.
“The DRC produces more than 70% of the world's cobalt.
Zambia is the world's sixth largest producer of copper and the second largest producer of cobalt in Africa.
These resources and this commitment to cooperation are essential elements of the global energy transition that we urgently need,” the State Department explained.
The US is convinced that the plan to develop an electric battery supply chain opens the door to transparent investments to build a value-added and sustainable industry in Africa and create a just energy transition for workers and local communities.
“The United States intends to support the DRC and Zambia in their development of an EV battery value chain in the DRC and Zambia in a manner consistent with applicable national laws and international best practices that facilitate the prevention, detection and prosecution of corruption, as well as the applicable obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption”, provides the said protocol consulted by Afriquactu NET.
Washington has, through this text, expressed the intention to take the appropriate measures to publicize the electric vehicle of the DRC and Zambia within the private sector and investment in the United States.
This could include business development, where appropriate, as well as exploring opportunities for technical assistance, facilitating potential U.S. private sector participation in these projects.
In addition, the US has confirmed its interest in supporting the development of industrialized economic growth, for example through the construction of electric vehicle precursor factories in the DRC and Zambia, and in providing technical assistance to ensure its success in the extent permitted by its national legal authorities.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan Calls For global Attention On Africa For Energy Solutions
The President of Tanzania suggests that creating power pools in East and Southern Africa can secure energy across the continent.
President of Tanzania, at the 53rd World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, emphasized Africa’s wealth in natural resources and its potential to contribute significantly in the worldwide shift to sustainable energy.
She urged for more private sector investment in Africa to harness the continent’s resources and develop sustainable energy solutions.
President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, emphasized Africa’s wealth of natural resources, including cobalt, copper, and nickel, and the importance of utilizing these resources to provide energy to the continent and other countries.
She also stressed the need to create regional power pools in East and Southern Africa to ensure energy security across the continent.
“By sharing energy resources, countries can ensure that they have a reliable source of power even during shortages in one region,” she said.
Ilham Kadri, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee at Solvay, also spoke at the meeting, emphasizing the need for diversified supply chains of metals and rare earths, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper.
These materials are essential components of EV batteries and other clean energy technologies, and it is essential to have multiple sources to avoid dependency on any one country.
Kadri also pointed out that China has built rare earths value chains for decades and to avoid a “Russian gas supply syndrome,” Europe and other countries must find diversified sources of these metals and minerals as well as localize battery assembly.
The World Economic Forum also discussed the importance of policies that support the energy transition.
Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, highlighted the opportunity for Europe to cut bureaucratic red tape, which would unleash opportunities for innovation, new jobs and working together at a European scale, or else “real action will move to Asia and other parts of the world.”
He also acknowledged that Europe could have reduced its dependence on Russian gas sooner, but it was a collective failure, not just Germany’s.
Lithium Miner Heeds Value Addition
A Chinese billionaire and a South African firm have partnered to establish a lithium processing plant in Mutoko, Zimbabwe as a result of the government’s ban on exports of lithium ore and unpurified salts.
The plant is expected to produce two million tonnes of lithium concentrate per year.
Last month, the government implemented a ban on exports of lithium ore and unpurified salts, with the exception of ore samples sent for analysis.
The ban requires that mineral exports be refined or beneficiated within Zimbabwe to meet international trade standards, adding value to the country’s finite mineral resources and creating jobs.
The chairperson of Suzhou TA & A Ultra Clean Technology, Mr. Pei Zhenhua, has signed a joint venture with Mutoko Lithium (Private) Limited to establish a plant that will produce two million tonnes of lithium concentrate per year.
Mr. Pei’s company already has mining interests in various countries including Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria.
Mr. Pei’s companies are listed on stock exchanges in China and Australia, among other countries, where he holds majority and minority equity.
This multi-million dollar investment in Zimbabwe is a sign of continued confidence in the country’s second republic, led by President Mnangagwa, whose policies have unlocked many opportunities for investment.
Both parties confirmed that the investment in the lithium processing plant was a result of their confidence in the economic environment in Zimbabwe.
The Chinese partner, Suzhou TA & A Ultra Clean Technology, holds a significant share of the lithium battery market and has a strong demand for the mineral due to the increasing use of electric vehicles and the shift towards clean technology.
The joint venture will produce two million tonnes of lithium concentrate per year, and negotiations between the two parties have been smooth.
They are committed to putting the plant into production as soon as possible.
Mr. van de Spy, the leader of Mutoko Lithium, stated that they find Zimbabwe an attractive country due to its abundance of resources and human capital.
Mr. Pei, the leader of Suzhou TA & A Ultra Clean Technology, stated that they are committed to complying with Zimbabwean laws in regards to the joint venture and their investment in the country.
Mr Pei, the leader of Suzhou TA & A Ultra Clean Technology, stated that the company arrived in Zimbabwe on January 11 and has an existing investment in Bulawayo that is performing well.
He expressed that the company has confidence in making investments in Zimbabwe and has successfully signed a contract to build a two million tonne lithium processing plant in the Mutoko area.
And Mr, Pei emphasized that the investment will contribute to the social and economic well-being of the country.
The company plans to comply with laws of the country, and also plans to give back to the community, such as building schools and clinics for local communities.
Mr. Pei stated that as part of their social responsibility and as a good corporate citizen, the company plans to employ local people and train them in mining and business ventures.
He said he believes in the utilization of local people for the good of any investment.
Mr. Pei expressed his gratitude towards their partner and Zimbabwe for their hospitality during the visit.
He now better understands the country and its people, and is confident that the investment will be a huge success.
He also stated that the investment will boost employment in the country and that both parties are confident in the success of the project and are ready to put their capital in the project to accelerate the construction of the plant.
He declined to disclose the value of the investment in the lithium processing plant in Zimbabwe, stating that he was bound by Chinese Stock Exchange rules where his firm is listed.
On Friday,13.01.2023 Mr. Pei and his team were in Insiza district, Matabeleland South Province, visiting Fort Rixon to assess progress at the site of the Zulu Lithium project.
The China-based company had a revenue of $20.2 billion in 2021.
According to the company’s 2022 third-quarter report, Mr. Pei owns a 5.8% stake in CATL through his majority stake in Ningbo Liane, a 79.9% stake in the holding company Ningbo Lianhe and another 35% stake in Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean with his wife.
According to Forbes, the businessman is ranked among China’s wealthiest people.
He also chairs the board of Premier African Minerals (PAM), a multi-commodity mining and natural resource development company and was assessing progress of the high-impact Zulu Lithium project in Fort Rixon.
The Zulu Lithium project, located in Zimbabwe, is considered one of the largest undeveloped lithium-bearing pegmatite in the country, spanning an area of 3.5 square kilometers. The area is rich in lithium and tantalum mineralization.
As lithium demand is rapidly increasing globally, driven by its use in the ceramics industry, mobile phone manufacturing, and the production of automotive batteries.
Critical Minerals To Play A Crucial Role In 2023
The ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe has highlighted Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, causing prices to rise for both individuals and businesses.
This has led to increased demand for a rapid shift towards a green economy, which in turn is driving the need for ‘critical’ minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds some of the world’s largest reserves of these minerals.
In early 2022, President Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, along with the Presidents of Zambia and Rwanda, signed a joint declaration to promote value addition in Africa.
The goal is to create African-made batteries in DR Congo.
As demand for battery metals in the US and EU continues to increase, this presents an opportunity for the Congolese government to push for partnerships that support national priorities and improve the lives of mining communities in the country.
Artisanal cobalt mining could play a key role in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s goal of creating African-made batteries.
Artisanal mining is estimated to have provided 10-20% of the country’s cobalt supply in 2021, which could be used as a source of raw material for local processing.
However, to be able to sell cathodes on international markets, the production and supply chain must meet international sourcing standards.
This is important as most of the industrial mining operations in the country have long-term commercial agreements.
Adjusting to an evolving regulatory environment
As of January 1st 2023, companies in Europe’s largest economic powerhouse, Germany, must adhere to the new supply chain due diligence act, obligating corporates to conduct due diligence on their supply chains.
A similar EU-wide supply chain due diligence regulation is expected to soon follow suit, with a first draft having been shared in February of last year.
The new legislation broadens due diligence and compliance expectations to include minerals such as cobalt – imposing an expectation on downstream actors to ensure the respect of human rights across their supply chain, encouraging them to co-contribute to the creation of acceptable working conditions upstream of their supply chains – or else face significant fines.
Zooming into the artisanal mining sector, the US-based Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) is about to pilot the ASM Cobalt Criteria in partnership with the Congolese Ministry of Mines.
The criteria are designed to respond to the realities of ASM cobalt mining on the ground, structured as staged requirements co-developed in consultation with national and international civil society and industry actors.
Originally designed to help guide investment into artisanal mining, the framework aligns with the CTC standard governing the artisanal mining sector.
The Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) has been a party to this effort and is looking forward to seeing clearly articulated goals for artisanal mine sites to professionalize – conditional on their access to meaningful financing from international actors to enable and catalyze the adoption of best practices.
Investment is critical to harness the full potential of the ASM sector
The financing needed for such improvements is something that the Congolese Minister of Mines, Madame Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi, drew attention to in November 2022.
In a public announcement, she declared her Ministry’s ambition to mobilise $300 million in blended finance – both commercial investments and international grants – to drive investment into the artisanal cobalt mining sector.
Meanwhile, in early November, Madame Fifi Masuka Saini, the Governor of Lualaba province, signed a decree highlighting the provincial government’s ambition of operationalising and launching the Musompo Trade Centre.
This regional trading hub for minerals originating from artisanal mine sites is set to open mid 2023.
As the race for valuable supplies of cobalt quickens, investment decisions will need to take into account shifting policies and strategies of countries that host these increasingly valuable resources.
The recent developments in the DR Congo are aligned with the growing spotlight on social and governance issues related to the sourcing of critical minerals.
copperbeltkatangamining.com
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Plenty of Food for thought on the Road to Mining Manono Bro
Cheers
Frank
