Battery Metals

Morocco
After copper, KCM positions itself on cobalt

The Jbiel mine, which currently produces only a modest volume of copper, has as yet untested cobalt potential. The operator, Kharrouba Copper Mining, is looking for investors and has approached US company Cunningham Mining.

DRC
Zijin Mining pays $70m to mysterious Congolese NGO

A subsidiary of Chinese miner Zijin has, via its joint venture with Congolese state-owned Cominière, paid a substantial sum to an NGO whose president also sits on the board of the state-owned company.

Madagascar, South Africa
Rio Tinto offshoot QMM takes on new boss

Isabelle Wabete is taking over mining giant Rio Tinto's Madagascan branch QMM. She will have her work cut out for her in that strategic role.

DRC
EU bids to give substance to critical minerals partnership with DR Congo

European Union officials are completing a visit to the DR Congo capital Kinshasa that began in early April to discuss the follow-up to the strategic partnership on critical minerals signed in October with the Congolese presidency of Félix Tshisekedi.

Morocco
Government forks out to lure Chinese battery maker BTR

The government has agreed to finance between 10% and 15% of the cost of a cathode factory as part of its bid to attract the Chinese group BTR, a world leader in electric battery component manufacture.

The New Guard
Senegal, Morocco, Ethiopia

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Senegal Senegalese engineer Frédéric Zanklan takes charge at Eramet company

Morocco Ismael Belkhayat, serial start-upper

Ethiopia Dawit Abebayehu prepares his country's "ESG" strategy

DRC
Washington divided over Dan Gertler audit

US diplomat Amos Hochstein, the White House's special coordinator for energy security, is opposed to an exhaustive audit of Dan Gertler's assets. Several other officials want such a review to take place before sanctions imposed on the Israeli billionaire since 2017 are lifted.

Morocco
Mining magnate Benoît La Salle targets big Moroccan copper find

The Canadian head of Aya Gold & Silver believes he can find a major copper deposit in Morocco by investing in exploration. He has been discussing his plans with other mining sector figures like Robert Friedland and Mark Bristow.

Botswana
China Minmetals invests heavily in Khoemacau copper mine

In March, the MMG subsidiary finalised its $1.73bn takeover of Cuprous Capital, owner of the Khoemacau copper mine in northern Botswana. This is the largest investment made by a Chinese company in the country.

Madagascar
Madagascar in trouble with Tokyo over Ambatovy mining debt

The mining company controlled by Japan's Sumitomo is struggling to recover VAT, the amount of which is the subject of debate between the Japanese embassy and the Malagasy authorities.

Zimbabwe
Nigerian tycoon Benedict Peters launches lithium mining project

With the backing of the Zimbabwean authorities, the Aiteo Group boss has obtained a lithium exploration permit in the sought-after Kamativi area. But he is planning to abandon his Maflox Claim platinum project.

DRC
Buenassa builds ties in US to raise funds for cobalt refinery

The Congolese company headed by Eddy Kioni and its partner in the project, Delphos investment fund, have met with several US institutions to raise financing for the $350m copper-cobalt smelter planned in the country's Lualaba province.

DRC
DRC mining execs expected in Tokyo in early April

DR Congo Mines Minister Antoinette N'Samba Kalambayi will bring a large delegation of her country's mining bosses and senior officials with her to Tokyo from 1 to 7 April.

Morocco
Why China's BYD put the brakes on electric vehicle production plans

Despite the signing of a partnership in the presence of Mohammed VI in 2017, the major Chinese group BYD has not carried out its plans to set up a series of electric vehicle production plants in Morocco.

Cameroon
Phoenix Mining and SNI bury the hatchet over Nkamouna cobalt

Geovic Cameroun, operator of the Nkamouna cobalt and nickel project, finally held its annual general shareholders meeting in Yaoundé on 28 and 29 February after months of delays.

Uganda
Kampala hopes to capitalise on US-China race for graphite and rare earths

The Ugandan government plans to take advantage of Beijing and Washington's appetite for energy transition minerals to consolidate its mining industry, which is still in its infancy in these sectors.

Guinea
China and US groups battle for Trans-Guinean contract

A Chinese and a US firm have both positioned themselves respectively on a major contract for the signalling and supply of locomotives for the future Trans-Guinean railway. The French giant Alstom is also taking a quiet interest in the project.

Morocco
Turkish giant Kontrolmatik lands first Moroccan contract

The Turkish group Kontrolmatik Technologies will be in charge of building the Allal El Fassi hydroelectric power station's new evacuation substation and high voltage lines.