President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has highlighted the nation’s strong interest in collaborating with Nigeria to harness the vast potential of critical minerals, especially lithium.

This effort aims to accelerate the transition to green energy and bolster the development of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Speaking at the Nigeria-South Africa Business Roundtable in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership, noting that Nigeria’s substantial lithium reserves could serve as a cornerstone for the industrialization of the electric vehicle sector.

The South African president also urged the private sector, as well as development finance institutions, to play a pivotal role in driving forward this initiative.

He called for collaborative efforts to build essential infrastructure and ramp up manufacturing capabilities within the green energy and EV sectors.

Ramaphosa stressed that the potential for cooperation extends beyond energy and automotive industries, particularly into pharmaceuticals, where both nations could capitalize on mutual growth opportunities.

South Africa, which has already developed a Just Transition Framework and an Investment Plan, is primed for large-scale investments in renewable energy and green technologies in the coming years.

The country’s ambitious plans reflect its commitment to the global shift toward a low-carbon economy, and Ramaphosa emphasized the need for both countries to leverage their abundant natural resources for green industrialization.

He called on businesses from both nations to actively support these initiatives and work together to ensure that critical minerals like lithium are processed at their source.

President Ramaphosa also took the opportunity to express South Africa’s strong support for Nigeria’s bid to join the prestigious G20 group of the world’s major economies.

During the official launch of South Africa’s presidency of the G20 in Cape Town, Ramaphosa pledged that South Africa would “keenly” back Nigeria’s efforts to secure membership in the influential economic bloc.

His support was further reiterated in discussions with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a meeting with officials from both nations at the 11th Bi-National Commission (BNC) between Nigeria and South Africa.

The G20, which has long been considered a platform for the world’s leading economies, had previously been represented by South Africa and the African Union alone from the continent.

With the African Union joining the G20 last year, thanks in part to South Africa’s lobbying efforts, Ramaphosa voiced the importance of expanding African representation within the group.

He urged that more key African nations should be included in the G20 to ensure that Africa’s voice is heard, stressing that the continent, often overlooked in global discussions, deserves greater attention and recognition.