SADC Futures of Mining: Implications of Large-Scale EV Adoption

This policy brief examines the implications of large-scale electric vehicle (EV) adoption for the mining sectors of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states. It argues that while the region possesses vast reserves of EV-related minerals and metals (EVMM), it primarily exports raw materials. The author advocates for regional cooperation, the establishment of a public-private EVMM working group and coalition, and the adoption of a circular economy approach to ensure a just mining transition and the development of local value chains.

• Southern Africa possesses some of the world's largest reserves of EV-related minerals and metals (EVMM), including lithium, graphite, vanadium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, fluorspar, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals (PGMs), yet the region primarily exports these as raw materials.
• The transition to low-carbon economies is expected to drive an immense increase in demand for EVMMs; projections suggest jumps in demand between 2015 and 2060 of 87,000% for EV batteries, 3,000% for solar cells and PVs, and 1,000% for wind power.
• To maximize the benefits of e-mobility, SADC member states should move beyond national interests and broaden the definition of 'local' in local content mining to include regional collaboration, aiming to establish regional mines, megafactories, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
• The author proposes the creation of a public-private EVMM working group via the SADC Business Council, supported by an EVMM coalition potentially hosted by the Mandela Mining Precinct, to coordinate sustainable manufacturing, ensure ethical supply chains, and develop beneficiation strategies.
• The African Mining Vision (AMV) serves as a critical normative framework for inclusive development, but its implementation has stalled in SADC, with the AMV absent from most national mining visions and action plans.
• Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) offers significant livelihood potential for millions of people and is more labour-intensive than large-scale mining, though it is often plagued by poor safety, child labour, and environmental pollution.
• A just mining transition in SADC requires a regional green deal and the adoption of a circular economy approach to mining, which would involve redefining 'waste' in legislation to include recycling and reuse of minerals and metals.

APA

Cloete, D. (2020). SADC Futures of Mining: Implications of Large-Scale EV Adoption. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Policy-Insights-94-cloete.pdf

Chicago

Cloete, Deon. SADC Futures of Mining: Implications of Large-Scale EV Adoption. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Policy-Insights-94-cloete.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cloete |first1=Deon |title=SADC Futures of Mining: Implications of Large-Scale EV Adoption |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=October 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Policy-Insights-94-cloete.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cloete2020sadc, author = {Cloete, Deon}, title = {{SADC Futures of Mining: Implications of Large-Scale EV Adoption}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Policy-Insights-94-cloete.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }