Battery Metals

The New Guard
South Africa, Angola, Zambia

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

South Africa Dire Tladi, first South African judge on ICJ

Angola Elisabete Dias dos Santos, AKA Betty the egg queen

Zambia Mfekiyi Makayi, a miner with an eye on AI

Kenya
Ruto between rock and hard place on mining law reform

After a four-year moratorium, the issuing of new mining permits has revived the debate between the different stakeholders in the sector. Local communities are demanding a fairer share-out of revenues and professional opportunities.

Namibia
Windhoek set to apply to EITI mining transparency body

The international secretariat of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Oslo is expecting to receive an application from Namibia soon.

Burundi
Bujumbura to make fresh EITI mining transparency application

Burundi did not go through with its initial application in 2015 to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and is now keen to try again. The country has significant reserves of gold, rare earths, coltan and nickel.

Morocco
Benoit La Salle hammers out Tangiers graphite plant details with Rabat

The Quebec mining entrepreneur has teamed up with China's C-One to build an anode plant in Tangiers that will eventually supply EV battery manufacturers with synthetic graphite. The level of subsidies has yet to be agreed.

DRC
New mining register boss cracks down on private permits

Popol Mabolia Yenga, who took up his new duties as the head of the DRC’s mining register authority CAMI on 3 August, has adopted a hardline stance towards private citizens holding mining permits.

DRC
EGC struggles to make cobalt comeback

Five months after the arrival of its new managing director, the Gecamines subsidiary has still not revived its partnership with trading giant Trafigura, nor has it signed an ore processing agreement with Buenassa, contrary to some reports.

Liberia
Details of Liberia's secret deal with ArcelorMittal revealed

Africa Intelligence has gained access to the confidential deal which gives the global steel giant a virtual monopoly on iron ore in Liberia at the expense of Solway Mining.

Angola
Block 20: Petronas and TotalEnergies' honeymoon period continues in offshore

Attracted by the announcement that production will soon begin on Block 20, Petronas has acquired a 40% stake in the asset from French major TotalEnergies.

Africa
African states aim for united front in deep-sea mining talks

The failure of negotiations at the International Seabed Authority to produce an agreement on deep-sea mining rules has paved the way for exploration outside any legal framework. An African coalition hopes to influence the outcome of the talks to ensure the continent can benefit from these potential new riches.

DRC, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia
Critical minerals: EU deepens ties with Windhoek and woos Kinshasa

The European Commission and Namibia have approved a raft of joint projects, 10 months after signing a framework cooperation agreement in mining and industry. In addition, the EU is also in talks with further countries.