Burkina Faso bans energy storage components from lithium batteries

Could African countries refine materials for lithium battery production & export?

African countries could refine materials for lithium battery production and export to the US and EU. Refining could be in countries that are currently mining raw materials required for battery cell production or have a plan to start by 2030. These include: 4. Presence of local battery demand or assembly 5. Presence of required talent 6.

How do African governments support the battery value chain?

Government Support: African governments are implementing policies to support the battery value chain. Examples include Kenya's electric vehicle policy, South Africa's electrification policy, and raw material export bans in Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Can a company build a battery recycling plant in Africa?

1. May include interim storage of sorted and dismantled parts (warehousing) for pickup by transport and logistics provider Note: There is currently insufficient accessible battery waste in Africa to make it profitable for a company to build a large battery recycling plant.

Can Africa produce a Gigafactory battery?

A gigafactory requires a capex of ~USD 1 bn to produce 10-15 GWh batteries per year; African countries could produce LFP battery cells and export to the EU market. Countries that could produce battery cells cost competitively (e.g., Morocco, Tanzania).

How can a battery pack be assembled in Africa?

Context Battery packs can be assembled in African countries by importing cells and components (e.g., BMS, sensors, inverters) and tailoring battery modules to customer needs. Setting up a battery assembly facility (~USD 2-5 million) to produce ~10 GWh annually could meet internal LFP battery cell demand (~7 GWh by 2030).

How much money do African countries need to produce lithium batteries?

The required capital expenditure ranges from USD 0.5-1.5 billion. African countries could refine materials for lithium battery production and export to the US and EU. Refining could be in countries that are currently mining raw materials required for battery cell production or have a plan to start by 2030. These include: 4.