Cape Town: President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed South Africa’s interest in collaborating with Nigeria to harness lithium for driving the green energy transition and supporting the development of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. He conveyed this during the Nigeria-South Africa Business Roundtable held in Cape Town, South Africa.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ramaphosa proposed leveraging Nigeria’s vast lithium reserves as a cornerstone for industrialisation efforts in the EV sector. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, noted in a statement that Ramaphosa urged the private sector and development finance institutions to collaborate in building infrastructure and scaling up manufacturing capabilities in this sector.
Ramaphosa highlighted the opportunity for cooperation beyond lithium, mentioning the pharmaceutical sector as another area for potential collaboration. He emphasized that both countries are strategically positioned to benefit from the rapid growth of c
lean energy manufacturing industries. He also spoke about South Africa’s Just Transition Framework and Investment Plan, which anticipates significant investments in renewable energy and the green economy in the coming years, as part of the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
The South African president also expressed his support for Nigeria’s bid to join the G20, the global club of major economies. This support was reiterated during the inauguration of South Africa’s presidency of the G20 and in his meetings with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. Ramaphosa stated the importance of expanding African representation in the G20, noting that South Africa and the African Union are currently the continent’s only members.
Ramaphosa stressed that with Africa’s growing population and potential for economic growth, it is crucial for its voice to be amplified on the global stage. He underscored the progress made with the African Union’s admission to the G20 last year and advocated for the inclusion of more African
countries to better represent the continent’s interests in the international arena.