AVZ Minerals has joined the DRC Battery Council, saying it aims to help develop a sustainable battery value chain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and across Africa.

The company said it signed the deal at the DRC-Africa Business forum, at which it pledged to "develop a locally-sourced battery minerals chain" for the "burgeoning" electric vehicles (EV) market.

Nigel Ferguson, AVZ's managing director, said the pledge would provide a strong platform for developing a battery minerals industry in the DRC. Additionally, Ferguson described it as "an incredibly significant development."

"The DRC and Africa are strategically positioned to play a pivotal role in the global transition to clean energy and decarbonisation," Ferguson explained.

"We are excited to be the only aspiring mining company that has been invited to join the newly formed DRC Battery Council, which will be presided over by the President of the DRC and the Executive Secretary for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, along with a myriad of other significant organisations."

The DRC Battery Council is a public-private partnership designed to support the DRC government in building a battery value chain in the country and Africa.