Zimbabwe has Africa’s largest reserves of lithium, a key ingredient in producing solar panels and rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles. The country is therefore a big player in the transition to a clean energy future. But under a new law, foreign countries who extract minerals in Zimbabwe are now required to process them in-country to provide jobs to Zimbabweans. That puts China in a very favorable position as it is already heavily invested in many mines in Zimbabwe. Marco Werman speaks with William Tobin, assistant director at the Global Energy Center of the Atlantic Council, to find out the implications of this advantage for China.
We rely on support from listeners and readers like you to keep our stories free and accessible to all. Monthly gifts are particularly meaningful because they help us plan ahead and concentrate on the stories that matter. Will you consider donating $10/month, so we can continue bringing you The World? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!