Staff Writer
12K Battery-Chem, a part of the 12K Energy Group is scheduled to establish Africa’s first gigaplant (battery manufacturing) in Zambia.
The plant will be located in Mansa and the company is also expected to establish a plant in Rufunsa District to manufacture electric commercial vehicles and electric school buses.
12 K Energy Group Chief Executive Officers, Blessing Chitsenga announcing the company’s latest investments in Africa in a press statement.
Prof Chitsenga said 12K Battery-Chem will also be establishing one of the first world-class lithium-ion batteries in Gaborone, Botswana which will also be manufacturing entry-level electric vehicles.
He said the plant located in Kwazulu Natal of South Africa will concentrate on luxury EV brands.
Construction of the Botswana plant begins the summer of 2023 while production of lithium-ion batteries begins at the end of 2023. “The site has been selected because of its excellent transport links and access to renewable energy” he said.
Prof Chitsenga The 12K Battery-Chem gigaplant will be the cleanest, greenest facility of its type in all of Africa and the world.
He said these investments are estimated to cost $2.6bn, one of the largest-ever industrial investments in Africa.
About 3000 direct jobs are expected to be created and a further estimated 5000 in the wider supply chain. The 12K Energy Group, with headquarters in South Africa, has subsidiaries whose business interests include e-Mobility, energy and transport reflecting the company’s convergence strategy.
This is contained in a statement issued by 12K Energy Group Chief Information Office Kellys Kaunda.
