President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed South Africa’s readiness to collaborate with Nigeria in advancing the use of lithium to drive the green energy transition and support the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Speaking at the Nigeria-South Africa Business Roundtable in Cape Town, Ramaphosa highlighted Nigeria’s abundant lithium reserves as a potential cornerstone for industrialization in the EV sector. According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Ramaphosa emphasized the need for private sector involvement and support from development finance institutions to build the required infrastructure and scale manufacturing in this sector.

“There is immense potential for cooperation in pharmaceuticals as well,” Ramaphosa noted, adding that both nations are strategically positioned to benefit from the growth of clean energy manufacturing industries. He mentioned South Africa’s development of a Just Transition Framework and Investment Plan, which anticipates significant investments in renewable energy and the green economy in the coming years. He urged joint efforts in mineral processing to ensure that critical minerals are processed at their source. “We must leverage each other’s capabilities to promote green industrialization,” Ramaphosa said, calling on businesses to actively participate in these initiatives.

Ramaphosa also pledged South Africa’s support for Nigeria’s bid to join the G20, a group of the world’s major economies. Speaking at the inauguration of South Africa’s presidency of the G20 in Cape Town, he underscored the importance of expanding Africa’s representation in global economic discussions. Ramaphosa reiterated this during his bilateral meeting with President Bola Tinubu, co-chairing the 11th Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the two countries.

Currently, South Africa and the African Union are Africa’s only G20 representatives. Ramaphosa advocated for the inclusion of more African nations to amplify the continent’s voice, which has historically been marginalized. He highlighted South Africa’s success in lobbying for the African Union’s admission to the G20 last year and expressed confidence in Africa’s future growth. “Our population will grow exponentially, and we will be the biggest growth story in the years to come,” he stated, emphasizing Africa’s emerging role on the global stage.