The move makes CATL the world’s second largest indirect shareholder in the copper-cobalt giant, which owns and operates the Tenke Fungurume Mine (TFM) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Last year, the Chinese manufacturer acquired a 25% interest in CMOC’s Kisanfu copper-cobalt mine, also in the DRC, for $137.5 million.
The deal is among many recent examples of Chinese miners and battery makers forging closer ties as the accelerating shift to electric vehicles highlights the shortage of key metals needed to power the clean-energy revolution.
CATL is trying to address supply-chain constraints by being more active upstream. It was the losing bidder for Canada’s Millennial Lithium a year ago, and has signed agreements with several Chinese provincial governments, including Sichuan and Jiangxi, to secure lithium supplies.
