ICM: Present Glencore and your activity in a few words.
Stephane Burban: Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 responsibly-sourced commodities that advance everyday life. Through a network of assets, customers and suppliers that spans the globe, we produce, process, recycle, source, market and distribute the commodities that enable decarbonisation while meeting the energy needs of today.
Glencore companies employ around 135,000 people, including contractors. With a strong footprint in over 35 countries in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, our marketing and industrial activities are supported by a global network of more than 40 offices.

The global battery recycling market was valued at EUR 10.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach EUR 19.2 billion by 2030. ‘The potential growth of battery driven products is incredible,’ says Laurent Cohen of Solvay. ‘However, the input recyclers provide today is but a drop in the ocean in the demand for battery metals.’

‘There are no dedicated battery recycling facilities set up in South Africa so we are losing valuable materials like lithium and cobalt,’ says Lesego Siwela, applications engineer at Cwenga Technologies. The South African company is one of the first players trying to fill the country’s gap in recycling potential.