Anglo American announced yesterday the launch of a research and development project in collaboration with GEM, one of China’s largest battery and battery material recyclers. File
Anglo American announced yesterday the launch of a research and development project in collaboration with GEM, one of China’s largest battery and battery material recyclers.
The aim is to explore new and more efficient technologies for the use of existing and alternative raw materials to be used in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).
Anglo American Base Metal executive head Paul Ward said: "Our diversified portfolio includes a range of products critical to the long-term decarbonisation of transport – a sector estimated to account for over 15% of global emissions.
“We are collaborating with leaders in the sector to explore new technologies that build on the physical qualities of our portfolio of products to help tackle some of the key challenges facing the industry and contribute to the sustainable scale-up of EV travel,“ he said in a statement.
The project will focus on jointly developing metal-dissolving technologies, using metals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese, to facilitate a more efficient use of battery materials, from either mined or recycled routes, with the intention of improving existing processes, as well as exploring the use of new materials not currently employed in the battery value chain.
China is the world’s largest EV market, with an expected eight million vehicles sold in 2023.
GEM is a leading global battery material producer, with pioneering technology and capability to recycle batteries through the extraction of the minerals they contain.
Professor Xu Kaihua, founder and chairperson of GEM, said: “This collaboration marks an important step for us, as we seek to drive synergies with industry leaders such as Anglo American that participate in the critical raw materials value chain.”
BUSINESS REPORT