The concept of gigafactories, those colossal battery manufacturing facilities, has revolutionized the electric vehicle (EV) industry. These facilities, known for their enormous capacity to produce batteries capable of storing immense amounts of electricity, have played a pivotal role in the global transition towards sustainable transportation. While Asia, North America, and Europe have embraced this trend, Africa has remained conspicuously absent from the gigafactory map. The question that looms large now is whether there should be a gigafactory in Africa. Africa, often referred to as the cradle of civilization, is teeming with potential. Beyond its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes, Africa is blessed with abundant natural resources, including minerals essential for EV battery production. The continent boasts vast reserves of minerals like lithium, cobalt, gold, coal and manganese, which are the lifeblood of the burgeoning EV industry. Africa is home to some 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, 8% of its natural gas reserves, and 12% of its oil reserves, according to the United Nations. Speaking during a panel discussion on building a regional battery mineral value chain in Africa, Antonio Pedro, acting chief of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), highlighted that Africa is home to many of the required minerals. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for example, produces over 70% of the world’s cobalt, a key ingredient in lithium-ion batteries. The DRC and Zambia together supply 10% of global copper, while Mozambique and South Africa hold significant reserves of graphite, platinum metals, lithium, and among others.…
Get exclusive access to this story
Subscribe to Nomad Africa and get unlimited access to our exclusive articles on African cultural heritage, travel tips, tourism news updates, industry trends and insights. Your subscription will also help support tourism in Africa. Subscription starts from only R15 ($1 USD) per month.*
Already a subscriber? Login here
*Charged for the first month after which standard rates apply. Cancel anytime.
...
