[Lithium Battery: BTR Group And Wuchuang Recycling Sign Cooperation Agreement]

On August 5th, The African Development Bank Group has approved a €100 million loan to Gotion Power Morocco to finance an integrated cathode-to-cell lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery gigafactory in the Rabat-Salé Kénitra Free Trade Zone. AfDB plans to mobilize up to an additional €141 million from financial partners, acting as Mandated Lead Arranger under the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD). The project is led by Gotion High-Tech, a Hefei-headquartered, Shenzhen-listed battery manufacturer, and will mark the first integrated battery manufacturing plant in Africa and the MENA region. Phase 1 targets 10 GWh of battery cell and pack production for EVs, with capacity plans to scale up to 100 GWh. The facility is expected to create over 600 direct jobs and reach a 70% local industrial integration rate. AfDB's Kevin Kariuki called battery storage the missing link in Africa's clean energy transition, noting the renewable-powered facility will support large-scale solar and wind integration while building green industrial jobs. AfDB's Morocco country manager Achraf Tarsim said the gigafactory will strengthen Morocco's industrial competitiveness and support local beneficiation of critical minerals used in the energy transition. SMM View: The project signals growing downstream investment in Africa's battery value chain, moving beyond raw mineral extraction toward integrated cathode-to-cell manufacturing. As Morocco positions itself as a mobility and green-tech hub, this development adds to a broader continental trend of localizing value-add stages of the lithium supply chain a shift that could reshape where and how African critical minerals are processed in the years ahead

Recently, Qingdao Haida Ruiyuan New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. announced its plan to construct a lithium battery anode material expansion project utilizing existing completed factory facilities. The project is located east of Liugezhuang Village, Tianzhuang Town, Pingdu City, Qingdao, Shandong, with a total investment of 117 million yuan. The site covers a total area of 14,777.5 square meters, with a building area of 14,777.5 square meters. Main production equipment includes mechanical mills, roller mills, reactors, and tunnel kilns. The project primarily uses petroleum coke (needle coke), calcined petroleum coke, and asphalt as raw materials, which undergo pelletizing, roasting, and other processes to produce lithium battery anode materials. The production capacity is 80,000 tons per year.

【Ascend Elements Reaches DOJ Settlement Over DOE Grant Claims】 U.S. battery recycler Ascend Elements has agreed to pay US$7.5 million to settle civil allegations over inflated reimbursement claims under a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant. The DOE has canceled the remaining funding for the Hopkinsville battery recycling project, which is about 65% complete, while the facility's future development remains under review.