DRC’s Ministry of Industry and SMEs announces official support for the DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum

September 18, 2024September 18, 2024 Constance

The DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum in Kinshasais a major milestone as the DRC works towards building a sustainable battery precursor manufacturing industry.

This is according to the DRC’s Minister of Industry and the Development of SMEs, H.E. Louis Watum, a pioneer of the mining industry before he joined the cabinet.

The ministry has officially confirmed its support of and participation in this week’s event.

In a statement issued in the run-up to the event, Minister Watum also extends an invitation “to investors, mineral processors, mining houses and all stakeholders interested in contributing to this transformative initiative to join us as we work together to create a thriving ecosystem that benefits local economies and communities.”

The upcoming DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum, taking place in Kinshasa from 17–18 September, focuses on the region’s potential in the global energy transition, including leveraging DRC and Zambia’s significant cobalt and copper resources for battery precursor manufacturing.

Overall, the DRC envisions a future where it plays a pivotal role in the global battery metals supply chain, contributing to the energy transition while fostering economic development and sustainability in the region.

Opening session
The theme of the event’s opening session this Tuesday, 17 September, is “Building a robust sustainable battery metals ecosystem in the DRC,” and proceedings are as follows:

Start at 09h30:

Opening remarks and programme announcement
– Samukelo Madlabane, Event Director, VUKA Group, SA

Opening remarks from the advisory board
– Molebogeng Mazibuko, Associate Vice-President/Investment Division, AFC, Africa

Opening remarks from the sponsor
–Wu Shenggen, Chief Partnership Officer, TFM, China

Opening remarks from CCB: Vision and next steps
– Denis Lecouturier, Managing Director, CCB, DRC

General reflection: Critical Minerals—What can be done to break the curse and benefit from momentum?
– Franck Fwamba, Executive Director, RND Asbl (member of civil society), DRC

Quick overview of recommendations from the 2023 edition of DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum
– Joachim Nzuzi, Chief of Staff, ERG Africa

Keynote address: Towards a strategic vision of sustainable battery minerals ecosystem in the DRC: Challenges and opportunities
– Kojo Busia, Executive Director Business Development, Strategy and ESG, Green Africa Minerals, Ghana

Opening remarks
– H.E. Kizito Pakabomba, Ministry of Mines, DRC*

Ministerial address and opening of the DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum
– H.E. Louis Watum, Minister of Industry and the Development of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, DRC

Click here for more information on the programme at DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum.

Experts and trailblazers
The high-level two-day gathering will provide valuable networking and matchmaking with senior local and international industry decision-makers.

During the sessions, industry experts and trailblazers, who have successfully localised the processing of raw materials and created local manufacturing industries, will share their experiences and lessons learnt along the way. In addition, attendees can study the many opportunities within the battery manufacturing industries in the DRC and Zambia.

Industry support
Following its successful launch last year, gathering key role players in the battery manufacturing value chain from the private and public sectors, DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum has already attracted the support of leading names in the sector with CMOC confirmed as a cobalt plus sponsor, Cominiere SA and ARSP as cobalt sponsors and Axishouse Group, Parilis Africa, River City and USAID as copper sponsors.

About DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum
DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum is organised by The VUKA Group (formerly Clarion Events Africa), a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors. Other well-known events by The Vuka Group include DRC Mining Week, Nigeria Mining Week, Enlit Africa, Africa’s Green Economy Summit, Smarter Mobility Africa, ECOM Africa and CEM Africa.

Mining Review Africa, the leading monthly magazine and digital platform in the African mining industry, is the event’s premium media partner.

DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum dates and venue:
Dates: 17–18 September 2024
Location: Fleuve Congo Hotel, Kinshasa, DRC