<div style="max-width: 700px;">
  <video-js
    data-account="1571595826001"
    data-player="c0AOssA7"
    data-video-id="6152821008001"
    data-embed="default"
    controls=""
    data-application-id=""
    class="vjs-fluid"></video-js>
</div>
<p><script src="//players.brightcove.net/1571595826001/c0AOssA7_default/index.min.js">
</script></p>
<p>CNBC Africa is joined by the CEO of Eurasian Resources Group and the Co-Chair of the Global Battery Alliance, Benedikt Sobotka to speak on the COVID-19 impact on the business as well as how the demand for battery metals has fared during global lock-downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>


Eurasian Resources CEO speaks on COVID-19 impact on business & demand for battery metals amid global lock-downs


<p>By Chris Bishop</p>



<p>When the young Fortune Mojapelo (pictured) used to take a taxi from his township to the nearby small town of  Kwekwe in Zimbabwe he used to marvel at the huge, imposing, chrome refineries that loomed large by the roadside – never thinking, for a moment, that one day he would be in mining poised to take over 10% of supply of one of the planet’s most sought after minerals destined to power our future.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fortune.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-355128" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fortune.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fortune-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fortune-696x928.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fortune-315x420.jpg 315w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



<p>Mojapelo left Que Que, in the heart of Zimbabwe’s chrome
belt, to go to the University of Cape Town to study actuarial science. He spent
a few years as a management consultant before applying his skills to a
consortium seeking mineral rights in South Africa. They succeeded and Mojapelo,
then in his early 30s, became a founder of Bushveld Minerals, which listed on
AIM in London in 2017.</p>



<p>Now the South African company is gearing up to take advantage
of the world rush for battery metals expected to see the world market increase
122 times in the next 20 years. An expansion expected to attract $660 billion
in capital expenditure to unearth more metals like cobalt, lithium and vanadium
that will make the batteries that will power the world’s cars, factories and
mines. This transformation, expected to be led by Chinese manufacturers, will
replace fossil fuels with electricity to diminish the world’s carbon footprint.</p>



<p>“My only question is can Africa keep up with this demand,”
says Mojapelo <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/02/04/miningindaba2020-bushveld-minerals-ceo-heres-why-we-are-excited-about-our-expansion-plans/">speaking
the CNBC Africa at the Mining Indaba</a> in Cape Town, “I think we can and our
company is expanding to make sure we can.”</p>



<p>Bushveld Minerals, with its Vametco Mine employing 600
workers in Brits west of Johannesburg, is investing to treble production to
8400 mt in the next five years. The company, which supplies the steel industry
in the United States and Asia, &nbsp;currently
supplies 3% of world demand and hopes to expand this to 10%.</p>



<p>Mojapelo is also planning to invest in a factory to make the
batteries from the mined vanadium. He agrees that Africa should be extracting
more from its raw minerals.</p>



<p>Benedikt Sobotka, the head of the Global Battery Alliance set up by the World Economic Forum, <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/02/04/miningindaba2020-eurasian-resources-ceo-reveals-the-biggest-purchase-order-for-the-mining-industry-how-africa-stands-to-benefit/">said at the Mining Indaba</a> that Africa needed to get busy making batteries as well as mining the raw materials.</p>



<p>“If you look at a cell phone battery, it can retail for a
thousand dollars, while the raw materials can cost cents. That is how much
money can be made in the battery business and Africa needs to get into it,
“says Sobotka.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


cybersecurity_shutterstock

How this African company plans to take advantage of the world’s rush for battery metals

<div style="max-width: 700px;">
  <video-js
    data-account="1571595826001"
    data-player="default"
    data-video-id="6129504388001"
    data-embed="default"
    controls=""
    data-application-id=""
    class="vjs-fluid"></video-js>
</div>
<p><script
  src="//players.brightcove.net/1571595826001/default_default/index.min.js">
</script><br />
Benedikt Sobotka, CEO, Eurasian Resources Group addressed the burning issue of the beneficiation of Africa raw materials at the on-going Mining Indaba in Cape Town with CNBC Africa’s Chris Bishop.</p>


#MiningIndaba2020: Eurasian Resources CEO reveals the biggest purchase order for the mining industry & how Africa stands to benefit

<div style="max-width: 700px;"><video-js data-account="1571595826001" data-player="default" data-embed="default" controls="" data-video-id="6083444240001" data-playlist-id="" data-application-id="" class="vjs-fluid"></video-js></div>
<p><script src="https://players.brightcove.net/1571595826001/default_default/index.min.js"></script></p>
<p>As the WEF on Africa focuses on shaping inclusive growth and shared futures in the fourth industrial revolution, CNBC Africa spoke to Benedikt Sobotka, CEO Eurasian Resources Group about the potential for investment opportunities in Africa.</p>


World Economic Forum: Eurasian Resources CEO: Why we are excited about Africa’s investment potential

<div style="display: block; position: relative; max-width: 730px;">
<div style="padding-top: 56.25%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; right: 0px; left: 0px;" src="//players.brightcove.net/1571595826001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992319305001" allowfullscreen="" border=0 frameborder=0></iframe></div>
</div>
<p>At the World Economic Forum 2019 in Davos CNBC Africa’s Fifi Peters spoke to Benedikt Sobotka, CEO of Eurasian Resources Group on opportunities, challenges of doing business in Africa and how corporations can effectively prepare for these changes accompanying globalisation 4.0.</p>


Opportunities, challenges of doing business in Africa – Eurasian Resources Group CEO

<div style="display: block; position: relative; max-width: 730px;">
<div style="padding-top: 56.25%;"><iframe loading="lazy" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; right: 0px; left: 0px;" src="//players.brightcove.net/1571595826001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5717442257001" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
</div>
<p>The theme for this year&#8217;s World Economic Forum is ‘creating a shared future in a fractured world’. Benedikt Sobotka, CEO of Eurasian Resources Group joins CNBC Africa’s Chris Bishop for his expectations for this year&#8217;s meeting.</p>


Africa is still under-represented at WEF – Eurasian Resources Group CEO

<div style="display: block; position: relative; max-width: 640px;">
<div style="padding-top: 56.25%;"><iframe loading="lazy" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; right: 0px; left: 0px;" src="//players.brightcove.net/1571595826001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5575831779001" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
</div>
<p>Eurasian Resources Group is a leading minerals and metals producer, with operations in 14 countries, including here in Africa. But how does mining on the continent differ from other parts of the world. Benedikt Sobotka, CEO, Eurasian Resources Group joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Benedikt Sobotka

Eurasian Resources CEO speaks on COVID-19 impact on business & demand for battery metals amid global lock-downs

How this African company plans to take advantage of the world’s rush for battery metals

#MiningIndaba2020: Eurasian Resources CEO reveals the biggest purchase order for the mining industry & how Africa stands to benefit

World Economic Forum: Eurasian Resources CEO: Why we are excited about Africa’s investment potential

Opportunities, challenges of doing business in Africa – Eurasian Resources Group CEO

Africa is still under-represented at WEF – Eurasian Resources Group CEO

Eurasian Resources Group CEO speaks on benefits of mining in Africa

News Tips

Advertise With Us

Benedikt Sobotka

Eurasian Resources CEO speaks on COVID-19 impact on business & demand for battery metals amid global lock-downs

How this African company plans to take advantage of the world’s rush for battery metals

#MiningIndaba2020: Eurasian Resources CEO reveals the biggest purchase order for the mining industry & how Africa stands to benefit

World Economic Forum: Eurasian Resources CEO: Why we are excited about Africa’s investment potential

Opportunities, challenges of doing business in Africa – Eurasian Resources Group CEO

Africa is still under-represented at WEF – Eurasian Resources Group CEO

Eurasian Resources Group CEO speaks on benefits of mining in Africa

News Tips

Advertise With Us

Newsletters