Democratic Republic of the Congo RV Energy Storage Battery

London and Kinshasa, November 24, 2021 – The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) can leverage its abundant cobalt resources and hydroelectric power to become a low-cost and low-emissions producer of lithium-ion battery cathode precursor materials.

It also highlights the potential for increased engagement with the Congolese government to promote global trade of these valuable resources. As the EV and battery storage industries grow, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that total demand for lithium will rise by close to 90% by 2040.

This is due to the DRC's proximity to cathode raw materials and heavy reliance on hydroelectric power plants.

Photo: Unsplash The DRC plays a key role in the electric vehicle industry, supplying crucial minerals while facing labor and economic challenges.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country in Central Africa known for its rich deposits of copper, cobalt, zinc, lithium, oil and gold— all of which are essential to making the global clean energy transition.

This is three times cheaper than what a similar plant in the U.S. would cost. A similar plant in China and Poland would cost an estimated $112 million and $65 million, respectively. Precursor material produced at plants in the DRC could be cost competitive with material produced in China and Poland but with a lower environmental footprint.