Sustainability
A Supply Chain Designed for a Low-Carbon Cell
Emissions are designed out of the supply chain — not offset afterwards. Co-location, beneficiation and renewable energy are the architecture.
Co-location
Materials, manufacturing and logistics concentrated at a single industrial precinct cut transport emissions and energy losses at every stage.
Circular Economy
A dedicated recycling & second-life business closes the loop — recovering critical minerals and extending cell life before recycling.
Green Manufacturing
Plant demand is served by behind-the-meter renewables and clean grid supply, with waste-heat recovery across thermal processes.
ESG Governance
Full ESG reporting aligned with investor-grade disclosure, traceable feedstock and community skills development at Coega.
Supply Chain Emissions
Most Cell Emissions Are Upstream — So We Attack Upstream
The largest share of a battery's emissions is created before cells are even assembled. Each bar below is the target of a specific decarbonization action — cutting the cell footprint from ~97 kg CO₂e/kWh today toward 12–24 kg CO₂e/kWh by 2030.
Source: McKinsey & Company, February 2023 — Battery Supply Chain Decarbonization.
Mining & Refining
26 kg CO₂e/kWh- Renewable-powered mining
- In-country refining
- Traceable, certified feedstock
Active-Material Production
32 kg CO₂e/kWh- Co-located precursors
- Green thermal energy
- Material efficiency programmes
Other Components & Logistics
14 kg CO₂e/kWh- Localised component supply
- Short-haul logistics
- Electrified freight & port handling
Cell Manufacturing
25 kg CO₂e/kWh- Behind-the-meter renewables
- Waste-heat recovery
- Clean grid procurement
Bar widths reflect relative emissions (kg CO₂e/kWh). Co-location and beneficiation target a 97 → 12–24 kg CO₂e/kWh pathway by 2030.
Beneficiation Strategy
Value Creation Stays in the Region
Instead of exporting raw minerals, Vermicom processes them into battery-grade material in-country — creating skilled jobs, retaining value and shortening the chain.
| Mineral | Origin | Beneficiation step |
|---|---|---|
| Manganese | South Africa | Cathode precursor (Na-ion & Li-ion) |
| Lithium | Zimbabwe | LFP (Li-ion) cathode feedstock |
| Zinc | South Africa & Namibia | Zinc-air fuel cell anodes |
| Graphite | Mozambique & Madagascar | Anode active material |