By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South African leader says his country is collaborating with Nigeria to tap into the country’s mineral deposits, especially lithium to drive the green energy transition and support the development of electric vehicles (EV) batteries.
“As part of the broader global transition to a low-carbon economy, we must leverage the abundant natural resources that exist in our countries to promote green industrialisation”, Ramaphosa said on Tuesday in Cape Town, South Africa, at the Nigeria -South Africa Business Roundtable.
Nigeria is one of the African countries rich in mineral deposit but has faced large scale illegal mining especially in Northern region.
Lack of availability of processing centres has also led to export of raw mineral deposits which usual brings low returns in the West African country with burgeoning poverty rate.
Lithium is an important component of EV battery manufacturing.
But Ramaphosa proposed leveraging Nigeria’s vast lithium reserves as a cornerstone to boost efforts in the EV sector, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the Nigerian President, Information and Strategy, said in a statement.
Ramaphosa urged the private sector and development finance institutions to collaborate in building infrastructure and scaling up manufacturing capabilities in this sector.
“There is also much opportunity for cooperation on pharmaceuticals. Our two countries are strategically positioned to benefit from the rapid growth of clean energy manufacturing industries.
“South Africa has developed a Just Transition Framework and an Investment Plan that anticipates massive investments in renewable energy and the green economy over the next few years”, the release quoted Ramaphosa as saying.
“We should leverage each other’s capabilities in minerals processing. We must work together to ensure critical minerals are beneficiated at source. We call on businesses to support and involve themselves in these initiatives,” the South African leader added.
He also assured that South Africa would support the bid of Nigeria to become a member of the G20 club of the world’s major economies.
At the inauguration of South Africa as the President of the G20 in Cape Town, Ramaphosa said other key African countries should also be admitted to the club “so that we can raise the voice from Africa, the neglected continent for the longest time”.
He noted that South Africa had been the lone voice for Africa in the G20 before the admission of the African Union last year after his country had lobbied for it to become a member.
“We have a voice, we have a presence, and we will be the biggest growth story in years to come.
“Our population is going to grow by leaps and bounds, and therefore, as a continent, we are going to be a big noise, and we want that big noise to be recognised in the form of countries that will be part of the G20 right now,” he said.
