Brasilia-. The embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Brazil is planning on working with the embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC in Brazil towards enhancing their collaborations in order to promote the potential the two countries have to offer in the clean energy sector.
Speaking after paying a courtesy call on the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Brazil, Zambian Ambassador to Brazil Glyne Michelo said the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia’s relations in Brazil are key in improving trade between the two countries and Brazil.
Being home to at least 80 percent of minerals required for production of electric car batteries, Mr Michelo believes that Zambia and the DRC have an important role to play in providing Brazil access to electric car batteries in the near future.
The Ambassador indicates that Brazil is seeking to expand its energy innovation into new technological areas through its recent National Hydrogen programme and Fuel of the Future programme, the DRC and Zambia must step up and offer the potential and capacity they have in helping Brazil to achieve its desires for a total clean energy driven economy.
“Considering the fact that Brazil accounts for almost 7 percent of the planet’s renewable energy production to an extent of outpacing its 3 percent share of the global population and has long been a leader in biofuels and hydropower technologies, the DRC and Zambia can positively contribute to Brazil’s clean energy standing.” Mr Michelo emphasized.
Ambassador Michelo said both President Hakainde Hichilema and his DRC counterpart Felix Tshisekedi are committed to seeing the two countries rise to become key players in the clean energy sector by providing electric car batteries to the world’s top economies as opposed to just exporting raw materials.
“We must utilise our resources together to unlock our economic potential in order to create jobs for our youths and alleviate poverty among our people. Mr. Michelo said. As Africa, we have so much economic power that can be unleashed by working together.”
In 2022, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a historical cooperation agreement to facilitate the development of a electric car battery value chain and clean energy sector.
The Cooperation Agreement provides a framework for bilateral cooperation on the initiative to develop the electric car battery value chain as well as strengthen collaboration between Zambia and DRC.
The combined strategy will create jobs for both Congolese and Zambians thereby significantly boosting economies of the two countries.
In his welcoming remarks Democratic Republic of Congo to Brazil Ambassador Benoit-Labre Mibanga Ngala-Mulume Wa Badidike hailed the strong political and economic relationship existing between the two countries.
Ambassador Badidike has since called for increased cross border trade and investment between the two countries so as to create job opportunities for the youth and women.
Issued by Lloyd Kapusa
First Secretary-Press & Public Relations
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia-Brazil