Page 12 - AfrElec Week 40 2022
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AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec
Ghana aims to leverage lithium
discovery in renewables drive
GHANA GHANA aims to leverage the discovery of to leverage in exploring the real possibility of
lithium in commercial quantities to make manufacturing solar batteries locally.”
high-powered batteries helping the world transi- AIM- and ASX-listed Atlantic Lithium is
tion to electric vehicles, Joy News reports, citing targeting first production at its Ewoyaa project
the Deputy Energy Minister, Andrew Agyaper in Ghana, which would be the West African
Mercer. country’s first lithium mine, in the second half
Lithium is used for batteries in electric vehi- of 2024.
cles and used in energy storage and consumer The Australian exploration and develop-
electronics. It has the potential to reduce Ghana’s ment company, which also has lithium projects
reliance on gold and cocoa and turn it into a sup- in Côte d’Ivoire, estimates the operation could
plier of critical materials. generate nearly $5bn in revenue over its 12.5-
“The opportunity for an industrial and com- year lifetime, Mining Weekly reports.
mercial venture into the renewable market has “Prices for the ultra-light metal have soared
the potential to generate revenue, job creation past $70,000 per tonne this year as top auto-
and energy security enhancement,” Mercer said makers scramble to secure more supply to shift
at the Africa Energy Conference 2022 in Accra production from fossil fuel-burning engines to
this week hosted by the Business & Financial electric-powered vehicles,” the industry publica-
Times. tion writes.
“Ghana’s recent discovery of high-grade lith-
ium is an achievement the government intends
P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 40 06•October•2022