Zambia and DRC sign Cooperating Agreements to Start Manufacturing Electric Batteries

Head of State Félix Tshisekedi and his Zambian counterpart Hakainde Hichilema decide to harmonize their development policies and strategies vis-à-vis the mining and industrial sector for the success of the market relating to the establishment of a value in the electric battery and clean energy sector. To do this, they have set up a framework called “Battery Council of the Republic of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC – Zambia Battery Council).

“Our two brotherly states agree to set up a common governance framework, called the Battery Council of the Republic of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC-Zambia Battery Council), whose Executive Committee will be composed of the two Heads of State, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), as well as the President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank) In addition, this governance body will be equipped with a Technical Committee in charge of monitoring and evaluating the initiative; Creating a harmonized legislative and regulatory framework as well as a system of incentives common to the two States, for a business environment favorable to the development of the said value chain anda flourishing economic microcosm” reports the final communiqué sanctioning the end of the bi-partisan meeting held this Friday, April 29, 2022.

And to continue:

“Identify a pilot site for the erection of a battery value chain industry to house the project in DRC, Zambia or straddling the two countries. For this purpose, the government of DRC and Zambia make available for this project sites located respectively in the province of Haut-Katanga Katanga and in the province of Copperbelt; Affirm that the Initiative will be mutually beneficial by creating a unified and coherent partnership that maximizes gains without any competition between our two countries”.

President Hakainde Hichilema said that the signing of cooperation agreements between Zambia and the DRC to start manufacturing electric car batteries is key to poverty alleviation on the continent.

He said that yesterday’s agreements prove that his attendance at a DRC economic forum was the right decision as it gave birth to yesterday’s event.

The President however said the signing is one thing and emphasized the need to actualize the agreement.
Mr Hichilema says Africa has for long been viewed as a source of raw materials but the narrative is now being changed.
The President thanked the DRC government for staying the course and providing leadership over the initiative.

And DRC President Felix Tshisekedi said the two countries are home to at least 80 per cent of minerals required for the production of electric car batteries.

Mr Tshisekedi said Zambia and the DRC have decided to be masters of their own destiny. He said the agreement will create a value chain for the production of batteries for electric cars which will be key to the economies of Zambia and the DRC.

The two Presidents also welcome the commitment of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), technical partner as well as that of the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank), financial partner who support this initiative, in particular for fundraising. required for its implementation. They also invited other partners interested in this transformative initiative for the economic development of their respective countries.

This agreement follows the DRC-Africa Business Forum held in Kinshasa in November 2021 under the theme “developing a value chain and a market around the battery, electric vehicle and renewable energy industry in Africa”, the Republic of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo represented by their Heads of State had agreed to work together to materialize this initiative as soon as possible.

The Republic of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Border states hold about 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves

.