Shanghai: South Africa and China are engaging in discussions to establish a China-Africa Innovation Alliance on Mining and Metallurgy. This initiative aims to enhance mineral-processing research, technology transfer, and the development of higher-value products through collaborative efforts.
According to South African Government News Agency, Professor Phuti Ngoepe, Director of the Materials Modelling Centre at the University of Limpopo, revealed these discussions during the 19th Pujiang Innovation Forum held in Shanghai, China. He emphasized the potential of the alliance to unite national facilities in both countries with other stakeholders to tackle challenges via research, pilot demonstrations, industry participation, skills development, and technology transfer.
The proposed alliance could enable South Africa to derive more economic value from its battery minerals by bolstering the nation's capability to process these minerals and manufacture battery materials domestically. Ngoepe noted that South African researchers are already working on developing battery-grade input materials from minerals like manganese and lithium.
Ngoepe explained how these minerals are transformed into input materials, such as manganese sulphate or copper sulphate, essential for cathode production. The subsequent step involves purifying these materials to achieve battery-grade quality. A recent collaboration with a South African company, supported by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, saw the completion of a pilot plant project producing manganese sulphate from manganese metal, alongside a pre-feasibility study on producing it directly from ore.
Additionally, a feasibility study on establishing a 10,000-litre nickel manganese cobalt precursor production plant in South Africa has been completed, involving a South African funding body, the government, and a university as an adviser. This project aims to advance to the next development phase.
Professor Ngoepe highlighted South Africa's mineral wealth as an opportunity for the country to partake in the entire battery value chain rather than merely extracting raw materials. He cited technologies like hydrogen-and-battery-powered mining trucks and electric self-driving vehicles as examples reliant on mineral resources.
The longstanding scientific cooperation between South Africa and China dates back to 2012, with the establishment of a Joint Research Centre. Collaborative research with institutions such as the Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Limpopo employs computational modelling to identify effective methods for mineral separation.
Ngoepe pointed to the use of machine learning to mitigate lengthy computational times associated with simulating complex mineral-processing environments. He also noted the growing influence of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantum computing in materials research, allowing scientists to model significantly larger numbers of atoms compared to previous capabilities.
However, Ngoepe warned that turning scientific discoveries into commercial products demands sustained investment, particularly in developing countries where support for research and innovation is limited. He stressed the importance of fundamental science in driving applied innovation and urged continued investment in basic research to underpin future advancements.
In his forum address, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande highlighted how rapidly evolving fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and clean technologies are reshaping economies and national development.
