How can Chinese companies repurpose used batteries?

Chinese companies like CATL and GEM Co, Ltd have taken the lead in the battery recycling market, using advanced technologies to maximize the reuse rate of critical materials. These companies employ cutting-edge extraction methods to reclaim valuable components from used batteries, which can then be reintegrated into the production cycle.

Why should China invest in battery recycling?

China’s innovation and investment in battery recycling represent both a pragmatic response to resource scarcity and a forward-looking exploration of circular economy potential. As the global green transition gathers pace, the ability to close the loop on critical resources like EV batteries will become an increasingly valuable asset.

Is China taking the lead in EV battery recycling?

China's taking the lead in EV battery recycling. Photo: Asia Times Files / X Screengrab / AFP As the electric vehicle (EV) market surges worldwide, battery recycling and circular economy initiatives have become essential to the global green transition.

Is China buying up a lithium mine in Zimbabwe?

In Zimbabwe, too, home to large untapped deposits of the resource, China is buying up mines. In a major deal, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt is investing $300 million in its recently purchased Arcadia Lithium mine outside Harare, according to Reuters.

Who is investing in lithium in Zimbabwe?

The money will be used to construct a plant with a processing capacity of 400,000 metric tons of lithium concentrate a year. Shenzhen Chengxin Lithium Group and Sinomine Resource Group are just two of the other companies that have invested in lithium in Zimbabwe in the past year. The Zimbabwean government has welcomed the investment.

Will Africa supply a fifth of the world's lithium in 2030?

Commodity trading giant Trafigura predicts Africa could supply a fifth of the world’s lithium in 2030 while Susan Zou, an analyst at Rystad Energy, says the continent “could be a rising star for lithium minerals”. “If you look at the development of mines in Africa, they are quick.”