US to help Zambia, DRC set up electric vehicle battery plants


Zambia and the DRC have agreed to develop a supply chain for electric vehicle batteries, including the construction of electric vehicle precursor plants, with the help of the US.

The three countries signed an MoU during the African Leaders Summit in the US in December 2022 to reduce carbon emissions and support the Paris Agreement’s aim to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change.

The US released the details of the MoU on Jan. 19.

Zambia and the DRC will supply cobalt, while the US will provide support, including possible technical assistance, to facilitate the development of an integrated EV battery value chain.

The DRC is the biggest cobalt producer in Africa, followed by Zambia.

The Central bank of Congo said DRC mines produced 104,920 tons of cobalt by the end of November 2022, while in 2021, the mines produced about 84 442 tonnes.

The US will facilitate the development of an integrated value chain for producing electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the DRC and Zambia, ranging from raw material extraction to processing, manufacturing, and assembling.

In addition, the US will promote awareness of the DRC and Zambia Electric Vehicle Battery initiative within its private and investment sector. 

The MoU further says the three countries will cooperate on feasibility studies, consultancies, and technical assistance opportunities to facilitate transparent, competitive tenders to find the best and most cost-effective contractors and partners to advance the DRC-Zambia Cooperation.

The US will render its support according to the applicable domestic laws and international best practices that facilitate the prevention, detection, and prosecution of corruption, as well as applicable obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption. 

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