Megamillion says it will form JV to set up SA battery plant
South African energy company Megamillion says it will form a joint venture (JV) with China’s Dr Henry Mao to launch the Giga-Africa 1 battery plant in Africa.
Megamillion says Mao, an electrochemist with a doctorate from Memorial University in Canada, holds 182 patents in lithium-ion battery technologies.
“In 1997, he co-founded Tianjin LiShen Battery, China’s first large-scale producer of 18650 lithium-ion cells. Today, LiShen boasts an impressive annual production capacity of 31 GWh,” notes the company in a statement.
“Dr Mao has also played a key role as CTO and COO of Shenzhen BAK, a top 10 battery manufacturer that Dr Mao helped to list on Nasdaq.
“Suzhou YouLion Battery was Dr Mao’s third venture in large-scale battery manufacturing.”
Megamillion says Giga-Africa 1 will begin with a yearly capacity of 1 GWh of lithium-ion cells, with plans to scale that up to 32 GWh upon completion.
The batteries produced at the facility will serve both stationary and mobility applications.
Under the terms of the partnership, Mao will transfer technology, equipment, and skilled personnel to the South African operations in a phased approach “over the next few years”.
Initially, dry cells will be produced in China by Mao’s team, with electrolyte-filling and all post-processing to be done in South Africa.
Eventually, all manufacturing processes will be localised, says Megamillion.
“This approach minimises risk while rapidly developing local capabilities and skills,” says Megamillion CEO and founder Nechan Naicker.
“With Dr Mao’s experience and guidance, we are ensuring a sustainable, long-term business model, while also championing the full value-chain, including the beneficiation and localisation of Africa’s critical battery minerals.”
Naicker declined to comment on the capital costs, location and timeline for the project.
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