In a significant move to strengthen bilateral ties, South Africa has expressed interest in collaborating with Nigeria to harness its critical mineral resources, particularly lithium, to advance the green energy transition. President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled this initiative during the Nigeria-South Africa Business Roundtable held in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Acknowledging Nigeria's vast lithium reserves as pivotal for the industrialization of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, President Ramaphosa urged private sector players and development finance institutions to build infrastructure and scale up manufacturing in this emerging sector. He emphasized the strategic potential of green energy, stating:
"Our two countries are strategically positioned to benefit from the rapid growth of clean energy manufacturing industries. We must work together to ensure critical minerals are beneficiated at source and leveraged for green industrialization."
Beyond the EV sector, Ramaphosa highlighted opportunities for collaboration in pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and clean energy manufacturing. He underscored South Africa's commitment to a just transition framework and massive investments in renewable energy over the next few years.
In a show of solidarity, President Ramaphosa also declared South Africa’s strong backing for Nigeria’s bid to join the G20, describing Nigeria as a "valued sister country." He made this announcement during the official launch of South Africa's presidency of the G20, shortly before co-chairing the 11th Bi-National Commission with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ramaphosa emphasized the need for Africa’s broader representation in global economic governance, noting that South Africa had long championed the inclusion of the African Union and other key African nations in the G20.
"Africa will be the biggest growth story in years to come. As a continent, we must make our big noise heard, with countries like Nigeria being part of the G20 to amplify our collective voice," he asserted.
The evolving partnership between Nigeria and South Africa marks a critical step toward leveraging Africa's resources for global relevance and sustainable development.
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