School of Social and Political Science

Description

The Centre of African Studies (CAS) is delighted to welcome you to the following seminar:

"Climate Change, Energy Transition, Green Minerals and Economic development in Africa: The case of lithium mining in Zimbabwe"

Speaker: Grasian Mkodzongi, Executive Director at Tropical Africa- Land and Natural Resources Research Institute (Tropical Africa LNRRI)

This paper explores the dynamics of lithium mining in Zimbabwe in the context of a global surge in the demand for green minerals. The global push to reduce carbon emissions in order to meet net zero targets by 2050 has influenced the demand for green minerals or so-called transition minerals which are critical for the transition to cleaner energy. The ongoing transition from the fossil fuel reliant internal combustion engines to Electric Vehicles (EVs) has influenced the rising demand for lithium, a key component in the manufacturing of electrical batteries. Developing countries such as Zimbabwe, which are rich in lithium deposits (and indeed other minerals) stand to benefit from the rising demand for green minerals. Lithium mining has the potential to contribute to the country’s Vision 2030 which aims to ‘chart a new transformative and inclusive development agenda’ through its National Economic Development Strategy (NDS1). Zimbabwe holds the largest reserves of lithium in Africa and is ranked sixth globally (although estimates vary) in terms of lithium deposits. The vast lithium deposits-if properly mined, beneficiated and exported could earn the country the much-needed foreign currency to meet its developmental objectives. The vast lithium deposits could also be a basis for a green economy which could make Zimbabwe a key player in the region in the production of lithium batteries and other green products which are critical for a transition to cleaner energy. More importantly, Zimbabwe’s rich mineral resource endowments could help it to achieve an upper middle-income economy as outlined in its NDS1 medium term policy.

The paper concludes by highlighting some of the challenges facing the country in its pursuit for a resource driven development strategy. Some of these challenges are historical and should be conceptualized within the context of a global commodity production regime which has continued to promote the adverse incorporation of formerly colonized countries into global capitalism. In addition, a weak regulatory regime, porous borders and smuggling of minerals poses a challenge for developing countries such as Zimbabwe in their pursuit for a resource driven development strategy.

When: Wednesday 27th March 2024 (3.30-5pm GMT)

Where: Hugh Robson Building, Lecture  Theatre G.04

Format: In-person only. Please register via Eventbrite

Speaker Biography

Grasian Mkodzongi  is an Executive Director at Tropical Africa- Land and Natural Resources Research Institute (Tropical Africa LNRRI) based in Harare Zimbabwe. In August 2024, he will be starting a new job as a Senior Visiting African scholar at the Nordic Africa Institute in August 2024.  He is also a Contributing Editor of the Review of African Political Economy journal (UK).  Until 2015, he was a Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Western Cape and A.C. Jordan Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cape Town. He obtained his PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 2013. He has published extensively on land and agrarian reform, extractives, climate change, energy transition and green minerals.  His current research focuses on the intersection of Climate Change, Energy Transition, Green Minerals and Economic Development in Africa. His latest article focusing on the political economy of the climate crisis in southern Africa was published by ROAPE in 2023.