China's Leap Forward: Securing Africa's Lithium Reserves in the Global Race
🇨🇳 China's Leap Forward: Securing Africa's Lithium Reserves in the Global Race.
China's proactive approach to securing lithium supply from Africa is proving fruitful as it navigates a tight global market for the crucial metal used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. With significant investments from Chinese companies, African mines are expected to increase lithium production by over 30-fold by 2027, accounting for 12% of global supply. This diversification of supply sources strengthens China's position in EV metals processing and battery component production, while the U.S. seeks to establish its own supply networks with partner countries. Chinese companies, including Ganfeng Lithium Group and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., have made investments in lithium mines in Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia. These investments are vital for China's supply chain to keep pace with the growing demand from its EV manufacturers.
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