As the world grapples with the extreme effects of climate change, leading companies, investors, government agencies, and NGOs are focused on decarbonization, sustainability, and creating significant impact, Zanzibar is expected to host a transformational battery summit in July.

To be held on July 1st and 2nd , 2024, the 1st East African Battery Minerals Summit (the "Summit") will advance the global green economy, address climate change, and allow select companies to meet the rapidly growing demand for key battery minerals. 

The Summit is organized by the East African Community, Africa Battery Initiative, and the Government of Tanzania, in partnership with InvestBank Corp, an award-winning global investment bank and a trusted and respected name in the global investment banking industry. 

InvestBank offers a diverse suite of advisory and capital market services to clients around the world and has established itself as a committed global ESG leader to create global impact, transformative change, and a more sustainable future.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been announced as the summit’s inaugural sovereign partner and the Future Minerals Forum (“FMF”) is the Summit strategic partner. 

Convened by Saudi Arabia, the FMF is a platform designed to enable the creation of resilient mineral value chains in the vast resource rich super region of Africa and Western and Central Asia. 

The adoption of green metals, and the establishment of industrial hubs in an emerging minerals super region spanning from Africa through Western and Central Asia, will play an important role in the future development of resilient supply chains for minerals and metals.

The worldwide battery electrification mega-trend has significantly increased the demand for key battery minerals. 

Recent studies conducted by both East African and international institutions indicate that the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, and Zambia alone account for a significant percentage of the total global deposits of key battery minerals, including (1) cobalt – 60 percent, nickel – 40 percent, lithium – 35 percent, and graphite – 45 percent.

 The 1st East African Battery Minerals Summit offers an unparalleled opportunity for leading companies and investors to participate in the development and industrialization of each sector of the battery minerals supply chain in the East African Community region. 

This development and industrialization will increase the resilience of the global battery minerals supply chain by increasing the number of countries involved. Companies will also have an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen their own battery mineral supply chains and attain supply chain security.

The East African Community Secretariat has prioritized the development of the region’s extractive industries. 

Mineral value addition, as a strategic value chain, will facilitate socioeconomic transformation in the region. 

The East African Community region plans to transform itself into a stable and competitive lower-middle income region by 2030 through the sustainable use of its natural resources, the development of the green economy, and through climate change adaptation and mitigation activities.

The 1st East African Battery Minerals Summit was originally scheduled on April 24th and 25th, 2024. 

However, the government of Tanzania, in its capacity as the Summit’s host country, received requests to reschedule the Summit. 

Additional time was required for the detailed security and logistical planning necessary for the greater than expected number of very high-profile dignitaries who requested to attend the summit.