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By Emma Ujah
President and Chairman of the Board of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Dr. George Elombi, has tasked African nations to stop the export of Lithium, the main raw material used in the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Nigeria is a major exporter of Lithium in Africa, though most of the quantity is illegally exported.
Speaking at the bank’s Mid-Year Media Roundtable in Abuja on Wednesday, he said that rather than exporting raw lithium, African countries should use it to manufacture EV batteries on the continent.
He also said Afreximbank has sufficient funds to finance the production of EV batteries and is ready to provide the necessary funding to any individual or organisation willing to venture into the industry.
In his words, “African mineral resources must work for Africa’s development. EVs are the future of transportation, and the use of lithium to produce EV batteries is taking centre stage in the EV industry.
“Africa must take its position in the EV industry. We have lithium. We should produce EV batteries at home. We simply have to produce them here. There is enough money in Africa to manufacture batteries in Africa.
“If you know anyone who is interested in EV battery production, bring them to me. But if you see someone looking for funding to export lithium, don’t bring them to me.”
Dr. Elombi also said African leaders and institutions must work together to ensure that African funds held outside the continent are repatriated to support the region’s development.
Some rating agencies biased against Africa
Speaking on the bank’s credit ratings, Dr. Elombi, who advocated for African rating agencies, said some global rating agencies initially dismissed Afreximbank as too small and insignificant to drive Africa’s development, while questioning the bank’s trade finance mandate.
According to him, one agency’s 2014 assessment suggested that trade finance could not serve as a foundation for development and implied that the bank’s core mandate lacked relevance.