The 2015 Paris Accord identified moving from fossil fuels to electrified transportation as a core strategy in the global effort to combat climate change. The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is well underway. A growing number of governments around the world have announced plans to limit or ban sales of petrol and diesel vehicles. In the private sector, car manufacturers have announced multi-billion dollar EV-related investment programmes. Trafigura projects that the global EV fleet could reach in excess of 50 million vehicles by 2030.
In this briefing paper, Trafigura sets out how it intends to meet the challenge posed by the rapid increase in demand for the raw materials for lithium-ion batteries, with particular regard to the cobalt supply chain.