Britain agrees deals on clean energy, critical minerals with Zambia

LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) – Britain said on Thursday it had reached deals with Zambia on clean energy and critical minerals as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly wrapped up a four-day visit to Africa to deepen ties.

He has wisely used the trip, which came shortly after a coup in Niger, to try to enhance Britain’s influence in Africa, welcoming regional talks on the Niger crisis and announcing his support for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The Foreign Office said Cleverly would agree a Green Growth Pact between the UK and Zambia, aimed at generating £2.5bn ($3.17bn) of UK private sector investment in the mining, minerals and renewable energy sectors. from Zambia along with £500 million of government-backed investment.

“The UK-Zambia Green Growth Pact and our landmark deal on critical minerals will support investment between UK and Zambian companies, creating jobs in both countries,” Cleverly said.

Zambia is a major producer of copper and also has deposits of critical minerals such as cobalt, manganese, and nickel. Last year Britain stressed the importance of diversifying its supply chains in a critical minerals strategy.

Cleverly will visit a copper mine in Zambia and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on critical minerals, which Britain said would “lay the groundwork for further UK support for responsible mining of copper, cobalt and other essential metals for global clean energy. transition.”

Britain agreed to deepen collaboration on critical minerals with other countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia.

($1 = 0.7878 pounds)

Reporting by Alistair Smout; edited by william james

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