Namibia has joined other resource-producing nations in Africa and around the world in banning the export of certain raw materials used in the battery manufacturing process and other green technologies. The Namibian information ministry has said “Cabinet approved the prohibition of the export of certain critical minerals such as unprocessed crushed lithium ore, cobalt, manganese, graphite, and rare earth minerals.” Namibia is among the largest exporters globally of diamonds and uranium ore but also has significant deposits of lithium and rare earth metals, making it a valuable potential source of minerals to fuel Europe’s energy transition. Last year Namibia and the EU signed a provisional agreement for the supply of rare earth minerals in an attempt to reduce dependence on…