First Mining Drc-Zambia 2023 First Mining Drc-Zambia July -August 2023 digital magazine | Page 11

EVENT

EVENT

DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum ready for crucial September launch

“ DRC industry and mining ministers confirmed to attend new platform ”

The inaugural edition of the DRC- Africa Battery Metals Forum , taking place in Kinshasa from 20 – 21 September * this year , will contribute to the establishment of an inclusive and equitable battery metals industry , support large-scale sustainable growth , local beneficiation and socio-economic development . This is according to Samukelo Madlabane , mining events director at the VUKA Group , the organisers of the new forum .

* These are new , confirmed dates .
“ The DRC ’ s Ministry of Industry has been tasked by the government to build a battery metals industry in Africa , with a state-owned firm processing some of the battery minerals in the country and other African countries playing various roles in the value chain ,” states Madlabane .
He adds : “ In an effort to curb the effects of climate change , the world needs to go through an energy transition that will be driven largely by battery metals . With the DRC endowed with these minerals , the country needs a platform for dialogue on how to leverage the demand . The theme of the conference is : Creating wealth for the DRC and Africa ’ s battery metals industry value chain .”
Broad-based sustainable growth Fresh from yet another hugely successful , record-breaking DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi , a long-running flagship event organised by the VUKA Group , Madlabane and his team are only too aware of the crucial timing of the DRC- Africa Battery Metals Forum and that the stakes are high .
He explains : “ There is a need to ensure that as the DRC builds this new industry , that it does so in an inclusive and equitable manner , and it is critical to have all the players in the value chain in the room to make sure it happens in that manner .”
Other than for investors , the DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum is a must- attend forum for the cobalt , copper , lithium , nickel , graphite , manganese , rare earths and 3T producers as well as battery makers , traders , investors and NGOs in Africa .
The African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA ) has given the continent renewed hope and it unlocks new opportunities , such as local beneficiation . According to a Bloomberg study , it would be financially more reasonable to produce batteries in the DRC and in other African countries rather than producing them in China . “ The birth of this timeous conference is the perfect storm , the conditions are just right ,” adds Madlabane .
Key discussion points at the inaugural two-day conference will include :
• The inter-ministerial dialogue of local transformation and building a local economy
• DRC and Zambia partnering in battery production
• What this means for the continent
• The mining operators ’ opinions and contributions on matters related to local processing
• Energy transition metals , strategic issues , compliance and production standards
• The socio-economic plan for sustainable growth
• Developing incredible investor incentives
• Transparent value chains and governance
Broad support The excitement and anticipation to define and develop this new mining sector are palpable among the public ánd private sectors . Confirmed to engage in the constructive dialogue at DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum are :
• DRC Minister of Industry , H . E . Julien Paluku Kahongya
• DRC Minister of Mines , H . E . Antoinette N ’ Samba Kalambayi
Industry leaders that have pledged their support include AVZ Minerals Limited as cobalt plus sponsor ; Fair Cobalt Alliance , Tantalex Lithium Resources , Tenke Fungurume Mining and CMOC Kisanfu Mining as cobalt sponsors ; AxisHouse Group as copper sponsor ; Elephant Trade as nickel sponsor ; and Afritec , Carmeuse Handyman ’ s Lime , Knight Piésold Consulting and MMG as bronze sponsors .
There are still various sponsorship opportunities for sector leaders available to promote their sustainable mining industry practices to government officials , key leaders and decision-makers .
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