Local Lithium processing plants at the basis of exchanges between Julien Paluku and several experts
Experts from sectoral Ministries, the Presidency of the Republic, the Prime Minister’s office and employers’ organizations including FEC and FENAPEC met, around Minister of Industry Julien Paluku, in Kinshasa as a prelude to the upcoming holding in the Congolese capital of Business Forum. These meetings will focus on the theme: “DRC Business Forum: developing a value chain and a market for electric batteries and renewable energies in Africa.”
The objective is to mobilize the various partners to launch the transformation of Lithium based in the territory of Manono in Tanganyika and other natural resources abounding in the country, with the installation of transformation factories.
Speaking on this occasion, Julien Paluku Kahongya, Minister of Industry, recalled the importance of a paradigm shift to allow the DRC to start the process of transforming its materials at the local level.
“The first world reserve of lithium after Australia, it is the DRC. It is in the province of Tanganyika in the territory of Manono where we have nearly 16 million pounds. Unfortunately, it is this Lithium which is being exploited for the manufacture of batteries. The DRC, which is the main producer, must change the management paradigms of our natural resources as the President of the Republic wants. We must start to exploit our own wealth by transforming it on the spot , to set up factories that are elsewhere in the Congo, “said Julien Paluku.
The latter thinks that the establishment of raw material processing plants at the local level will promote the creation of several jobs.
“When we only export raw materials, we create jobs elsewhere instead of at home. It is to fight unemployment. It is the same with gold. We produce gold. while the gold smelters are in neighboring countries. While they have no gold deposits, “he said.
In addition, the Economic Affairs Officer of the United Nations Economic Commission for Central Africa, Jean-Marc Kilolo, finds that lobbying with African financiers and elsewhere as well as international industrialists would do the trick for the creation of local industries.
“We should mobilize both the national side but also international financiers. We think of African financiers, elsewhere and international manufacturers. We should convince them to change their business model. No longer just take minerals from the Congo but also create wealth for the well-being of the Congolese nation. The Congo is the world’s largest reserve of lithium, “he suggests.
The establishment of processing plants at the local level by the DRC, which holds the largest reserve of lithium, a strategic mineral for the manufacture of batteries, will promote job creation.
