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Batteries are crucial technology for the 21st century

Their role powering the growth of key industries means we cannot ignore economic security risks

    • China made key strategic decisions and investments during the past decade that enabled it to pull ahead in battery technologies.
    • China made key strategic decisions and investments during the past decade that enabled it to pull ahead in battery technologies. PHOTO: AFP
    Published Mon, Nov 3, 2025 · 11:16 AM

    BATTERIES are a crucial part of our everyday lives and our economies: They’re in everything from phones and watches to cars and factories. Their role is only set to get bigger, especially in the energy sector, as costs come down and demand rises.

    But the world’s battery supply chains show a worrying dependency on one single country – China.

    History has shown that dependence on a single supplier for a major fuel or technology brings huge risks, as Europe found with Russia and gas to its great cost in 2022.

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