Manufacturing experience and minerals could give SA a leg-up in battery sector
Is lithium the new oil? What’s for certain is that lithium-ion batteries are on an exponential rise, propelled by the sales of electric vehicles and the rollout of energy storage. And SA could become a key player in the value chain, as highlighted in a new study conducted by Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (Tips), in collaboration with the UN Industrial Development Organisation and the department of trade, industry & competition.
Sure, SA does not have lithium, but a wide array of minerals is actually used in the production of lithium-ion batteries. This includes manganese, cobalt, iron ore, nickel and titanium, which are found in abundance in the country. In the case of manganese, SA even benefits from a quasi-monopolistic position in global deposits. Beyond SA, the continent also has incomparable reserves and mining capacity in key minerals supporting the lithium-ion battery value chain (including lithium)...
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