The Mining Finance Forum (Battery Minerals Edition) is the most important gathering of its kind in East Africa. It serves as a crucial platform for bankers, miners, explorers, financiers, brokers, traders, analysts, policy makers, and investors to come together and connect. The forum offers unparalleled opportunities for decision-makers in the banking industry to explore financing opportunities, investment partnerships, collaborations, and technology and knowledge transfer with companies across different segments of the mining industry. The event focuses on battery minerals, precious metals, and industrial minerals value chains, providing vital intelligence and facilitating the exchange of information and insights that are essential for the industry's success. By bringing together the industry's key players, the Mining Finance Forum (Battery Minerals Edition) plays a vital role in driving innovation, growth, and sustainability in the mining sector.
Global sales of electric vehicles (EV) reached an impressive 7 million in 2021, and the industry is expected to grow significantly, with sales projected to reach 55-72 million by 2025. As demand for EVs continues to grow, the need for raw materials to produce these vehicles will rise sharply. Africa has a unique geological advantage in meeting the demand for battery minerals, but mobilizing financing to support the continent's transition to a clean energy economy and sustainable transportation system remains a significant challenge. To produce electric vehicles, automotive manufacturers require battery minerals such as cobalt, graphite, lithium, and nickel for their batteries. Africa, and particularly Tanzania, enjoys a strategic geological and geographical advantage in the supply chain of these minerals.
Lithium is the most important mineral for the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.
Lead is used as a cathode material in some types of batteries as well as backup power supplies for computer systems & telecommunications.
Graphite is a key component of the anode in lithium-ion batteries, and is used to improve battery performance.
Nickel is another important component of lithium-ion batteries, and is often used in conjunction with cobalt to improve battery performance
Manganese is also used as a cathode material in some types of batteries, including lithium-ion batteries.
Sodium is not commonly used in electric vehicles (EVs) themselves, but it is being developed as a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Financing artisanal, small scale and junior mining projects can be a challenging task in frontier financial markets. These projects typically have high fixed costs, require long-term commitment of capital, and face uncertainty due to geology and market volatility. In addition, underdeveloped local financial markets for artisanal and small scale mining financing have led to these companies operating outside of formal financial systems. To address these challenges the Mining Finance Master Class is designed to build the capacity of the financial and mining community in the East Africa region on mining financing strategies and approaches. The aim is to equip participants with relevant knowledge essential to understanding mining projects, how to structure and finance small, medium, and large mining projects.