DRC-Africa Battery Metals Conference Agenda

Panel discussion 

• An industry to develop, a market to establish but infrastructure to develop: Are we putting the cart before the horses? 
• How critical is building processing plants for local transformation, while DRC is seeking to benefit from the global demand? 
• Lobito port project, still in progress: How do the DRC and the African Copperbelt in general benefit from this? And what about other minerals corridors? 
• How can DRC take advantage and benefits from the growing battery market driven by EVs? 
• What strategies off-takers need to develop to manage price volatility and the constant changing demand?   
• Understanding the global market dance (supply and demand), commodity prices and the geopolitics that impact the market. 

Participants:  

• Bryan Bille, Geopolitical and policy principal, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Belgium  
• Albert Zeufack, Country Director, World Bank, DRC 
• Bodom Matungulu, Expert, Technical Advisor in Charge of Infrastructure Projects, DRC 
• H.E. Lucy Tamlyn, US Ambassador in Kinshasa, DRC  

• State of play on current developments: Which projects have been announced so far? 
• To what extend does DRC need to reform its copper-cobalt mining agreements and joint ventures to avoid missing out on the potential benefits?  
• How can DRC government work with investors to address permitting issues for new projects?  
• And what PPP model would be best for the development of the battery-industry in the DRC and the region?

Participants: 

• Hervé-Michel Bia Buetuswa, Partner & Co-founder, OVK Law Firm SCP, DRC 
• Bernard K. Mulenda, Chairman of Actions for Development of Africa-ADA and Executive Board Member, CASTNET, DRC
• Jessica Webe, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network, DRC
• H.E.  Julien Paluku Kahongya, Minister of External Trade, DRC* 

Activity: Debate and Q& A session 

• Challenges and opportunities for the DRC-Zambia SEZ  
• Impact of the SEZ on local communities and the environment  
• Financing options and investment incentives  
• How can the ARSP reassure investors about local subcontracting when knowing that the Congolese have neither technology nor processes validated by those who control the sector or the global market of the battery industry?  
• How will ARSP work with investors in the battery sector who will use OEM, ODM, OBM?

Participants: 

• Romain Deniel, Country Manager, Arise IIP, DRC 
• Vuko Ndondo Kakule, Deputy Managing Director, CCB, DRC 
• Jean-Marie Kanda, Coordinator of the (ACEB)/ Administration member of CCB, DRC
• Miguel Kashal, Director General, Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the private Sector, DRC

Panel discussion: 

• What strategic plan have DRC and Zambia put in place to ensure sufficient energy supply for the proposed battery manufacturing plant?  
• Is the energy transition a priority in the region where the energy supply is a challenge?  
• What energy supply model should DRC and other countries in the region develop to ensure sustainable battery production?   
• Is clean energy capital for Africa in general and DRC in particular in developing the battery metals sector?   
• How much energy might be needed for construction of this plant, what the investment outlay might be?

Participants: 

• Eric Monga Mumba, Chief Executive, Kipay Investments, DRC 
• Henry Dubier, Regional Director, Genesis Energy, SA   
• H.E. Teddy Lwamba Moba, Minister of Hydraulic Resources, DRC* 
• Kabayo Muhau, Co-Founder & President, ZEMIA, Zambia

Chairperson: Jean-Claude Tshipama, Professor, TSHIPAMA ACADEMY, DRC/Canada

Panel discussion: 

• Analysing the market competition to access critical minerals in Africa; how can the DRC position itself and benefit from this? 
• Unbeatable natural resources, a prominent industry and fewer investments: Finding the gaps.   
• Where are investment indicators currently pointing at in the DRC battery metals industry?  
• For the DRC to realise it’s ambition, it needs other African countries to be ready to play their part”: How would these countries play their parts in the development of the supply chain?  
• How can DRC and regional players navigate challenges such as the margins that are still under pressure and an array of social, political, and environmental factors in the markets?   

Participants: 

• Molebogeng Mazibuko, Associate Vice-President/ Investment Division, AFC, Africa 
• H.E. Louis Watum, Minister of Industry and the Development of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, DRC 
• Emmanuel Mbarga, Principal Officer-Market Access and Regional Advisor for Central Africa, AFCFTA, Ghana 
• Celestin Kibeya Kabemba, Director General, Cominiere, DRC 

Panel discussion: 

• Fast-track to battery domination! How can the DRC rapidly adopt new technologies to produce next-generation batteries? 
• How can regional players address the skills shortage in the sector in their development process?  
• What are the impacts and value-addition of international players in the process? 
• What technology can be developed to improve the performance of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and reduce reliance on nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)?

Participants: 

• Jean-Marie Kanda, Coordinator of the (ACEB)/ Administration member of CCB, DRC 
• Iongwa Mashangao, CEO and Co-Founder, Altech, DRC 
• Yanchen Wang, Managing Director, SMM- Information & Technology Co, China

Panel discussion: 

• Can the DRC and Zambia forge a game-changing partnership? The challenge: building a robust value chain and turning local industries into regional giants. How will they do it? 
• How should the DRC cooperate with other mineral-rich African countries to develop a regional battery industrial ecosystem that will contribute to its national battery industrialisation strategy and local EV battery supply chain?  
• Which policy tools can the DRC use for this? 
• How can the government and the mining companies navigate geopolitical and rising stakeholders’ expectations?  
• Do DRC-Zambia’s current plans reflect the African Green Minerals Strategy? 
• What would be the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in this regional value chain? 

Participants: 

• H.E. Louis Watum, Minister of Industry and the Development of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, DRC 
• Denis Lecouturier, Managing Director, CCB, DRC 
• Albert Zeufack, Country Director, World Bank, DRC 
• Emmanuel Mbarga, Principal Officer-Market Access and Regional Advisor for Central Africa, AfCFTA, Ghana 

• Hugo Sinza, Senior Manager External Relations TFM SA, DRC

• What concrete steps are being taken to create a legal framework that promotes local value addition through raw material processing? 
• How do we ensure the sustainability of projects such as the Molulu copper-cobalt project for critical minerals?    
• Are there considerations within battery regulation plans to address the participation and opportunities for women in the battery industry workforce? 
• What could be the battery regulation standards for Africa? 
• How can mining and metals companies collaborate with industry peers and suppliers to maintain environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements while meeting the demand of the global market?    
• Perspectives of manufacturers and off-takers: What are the required indicators to make a country? 

Participants: 

• Maitre Mathy Yav, Lawyer/ Founder, CABINET KAREN TSHITOK & ASSOCIE.E. S, DRC 
• Hugo Sinza, Senior Manager External Relations TFM SA, DRC
• Agathe Bukasa, Executive Director, FCA, UK 
• Trésor-Gauthier Kalonji, Senior Taxes and Compliances Advisor, DaldeWolf, DRC 
• Kojo Busia, Executive Director Business Development, Strategy and ESG, Green Africa Minerals, Ghana

• Agathe Bukasa, Executive Director, FCA, UK

• Hon. Christian Kitungwa, Governor of the Tanganyika Province, DRC

• Vuko Ndondo Kakule, Deputy General Manager, CCB, DRC

• H.E. Louis Watum, Minister of Industry and the Development of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, DRC