Africa’s Mineral Resources Targeted to Power Biden’s Green Energy Transition
The United States’ domestic sources of minerals critical to the production of electric vehicles and green energy technologies may be restricted due to the Biden Administration’s reluctance to open mining opportunities.
Africa is emerging as an alternative to China as a source of the minerals needed for electric vehicles and wind and solar technologies.
The Biden administration opened the door to financing cobalt mining projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia last year to meet the objectives of his climate agenda.
African countries such as Zimbabwe and Namibia are rich in lithium, and the price of the mineral has more than doubled due to the electric vehicle industry’s demand.
Electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines require vast amounts of cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, graphite, zinc, and other minerals.
Africa has rich reserves of cobalt, with more than 70% of the global supply mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2021. However, concerns remain about the use of child labor, the absence of labor and environmental standards, and dangerous working conditions in the mines.
Moreover, the vast majority of mining and processing of critical minerals takes place outside the United States, making the United States more dependent on foreign minerals despite its large domestic resources.
The Biden administration has come under criticism for blocking several mining projects in the United States, which would have created a significant number of jobs and generated wealth.
The recent rejection of the $3 billion Twin Metals Project in northern Minnesota and the proposed Pebble mine in Alaska, which was thought to be worth several hundred billion dollars, has caused significant concern.
In conclusion, Africa could be an alternative to China for the minerals necessary for electric vehicles and green energy technologies, as the United States looks to diversify its sources of critical minerals.
However, concerns about labor standards and environmental concerns in Africa may make it necessary to look for other alternatives. It is imperative to strike a balance between meeting environmental objectives and ensuring access to the minerals necessary for the transition to green energy.
