PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Junior AVZ Minerals has pledged its support to develop a new Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Battery Council to develop a sustainable battery value chain in the region.

The ASX-listed company’s pledge followed a business forum in Kinshasa promoting the development of battery, electric vehicle and renewable energy subsectors in the DRC and other African nations.

“The signing of this pledge provides a strong platform for the development of a battery minerals industry in the DRC which AVZ wholeheartedly supports, and is also an incredibly significant development as we enter the final stages of securing the mining licence and permits for the Manono project,” said AVZ MD Nigel Ferguson.

“The DRC and Africa are strategically positioned to play a pivotal role in the global transition to clean energy and decarbonisation and the Manono project will greatly assist to improve the fortunes of the Congolese people, which AVZ Minerals is very supportive of.

“We are excited to be the only aspiring mining company that has been invited to join the newly formed DRC Battery Council which will be presided over by the President of the DRC and the Executive Secretary for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, along with a myriad of other significant organisations.”

The Battery Council will be constituted as a public-private partnership that seeks to support the DRC government to ensure the outcomes and roadmap agreed upon at the DRC-Africa business forum are implemented, towards a battery value chain in the DRC and Africa that is transformative, sustainable, innovative, socially and environmentally responsible, and economically viable.

The Battery Council has three objectives, namely supporting value creation of strategic minerals in Africa and strengthening productive capabilities in the battery value chain, ensuring a socially and environmentally responsible and sustainable battery value chain, and encouraging local and African champions to invest in the battery industry.