Cabinet approves Zambia’s entry into Global Battery Alliance

Zambia’s cabinet has approved the country’s entry into the Global Battery Alliance (GBA), a multinational coalition focused on building a sustainable and ethical battery supply chain.

This decision was made on April 8, 2025, during the 7th Cabinet Meeting.

The GBA brings together over 170 leading organisations worldwide, including governments, Non-Governmental Organisations, industry leaders, academic institutions, and top global automakers.

It operates on a pre-competitive model to drive systemic change across the battery value chain.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, announced the move, citing Zambia’s abundant cobalt reserves which is critical for battery manufacturing, as a major factor behind the decision.

“With Zambia’s significant cobalt resources, crucial for battery production, Cabinet deemed it vital to harness this mineral wealth by joining the growing electric vehicle market,” Mweetwa said.

He highlighted that the country’s participation in the alliance would support sustainable mining practices, maximise economic benefits, and align with the GBA’s high environmental and human rights standards.

“Joining this alliance allows us to capitalise on our mineral wealth in the booming electric vehicle market while committing to sustainable mining, economic gains, and upholding top-tier environmental and human rights standards,” the Minister added.

The Global Battery Alliance was established in 2017 at the World Economic Forum and became an independent not-for-profit entity based in Belgium in 2022.

Its mission is to create a sustainable battery value chain by 2030, guided by its foundational principles and vision.

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