Raw material for rechargeable batteries

Subject: Geography/science and tech

Context:

A recent report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said that the supply of raw materials to produce rechargeable batteries, crucial to move to cleaner energy is uncertain.

Concept:

• As electric vehicles (EVs) have gradually been integrated into global transportation, there has been a rapid growth in demand for rechargeable batteries. This will consequently lead to an increase in the demand for raw material used in manufacturing these batteries.
• The report underlined lithium, natural graphite and manganese as critical raw materials for the manufacture of rechargeable batteries.
• The security of supplies should be a concern for all stakeholders because the production of the raw materials is concentrated in a few countries.
• According to the report, over 60 per cent of the world’s cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo while over 75 per cent of global lithium is mined in Australia and Chile.
• Any disruption to supply might lead to tighter markets, higher prices and increased costs of rechargeable batteries.