Alliance to make optimal use of batteries

Luxembourg-headquartered Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) is eyeing the booming energy market in China by launching a global energy program, which seeks among other things to set up a responsible battery supply chain in the country and globally.

The international metals and mining company is a major producer of cobalt, a critical element used to make lithium-ion batteries, and plans to become one of the largest suppliers of the metal to China by the end of 2018.

The program, Global Battery Alliance, or simply "Alliance", was launched recently at the World Economic Forum's Sustainable Impact Summit in New York. Together with other co-founders, ERG established the program to ensure that all lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones and alternative energy technologies, including solar panels and electric cars, are supplied from reliable, sustainable and ethical sources.