Renault and Moroccan mining company Managem Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the sustainable supply of battery materials.

According to Renault, “In 2019, the responsible production of cobalt by Managem Group was confirmed by certification according to the standards of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), as well as by evaluations by NQC and ECOVADIS. Managem Group recently joined the FCA (Fair Cobalt Alliance).”

Under the MoU, Managem Group agreed to supply Renault with 5,000 tons of cobalt sulfate per year over the course of 7 years, and to start deliveries in 2025. According to Renault, “This agreement notably includes the possibility for Managem Group, Renault Group and its Alliance partners to advance further cooperation in the supply of manganese and copper sulfate, as well as on the recycling of battery materials in short loops.”

The Managem Group plans to conduct an engineering study, and then fund the building of a factory in Morocco’s Guemassa industrial complex for the production of cobalt sulfate.

Renault says the agreement provides traceability of battery materials and helps it to achieve an annual battery production capacity of up to 15 GWh.

The project is part of Renault’s goal to decrease the carbon footprint of its batteries. Compared to 2020, the company is aiming for a 20% reduction by 2025 and 35% by 2030. Renault has partnered with Vulcan for lithium and Terraframe for nickel sulfate as part of this initiative.

Source: Renault