The minister of science and technology, Naledi Pandor officially launched the very first lithium-ion battery pilot plant in the country on Wednesday at Delta EMD premises in Mbombela.

It is a strategic development programme intended to respond to the fast-paced evolution of rechargeable battery technology in the country.

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The batteries are used in electric cars, cell phones, laptops, watches, digital cameras and some medical devices, such as pacemakers used in heart-surgery patients.

Pandor said that if the plant is kept running properly it can also increase job opportunities in the country.

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This is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), hosted by the University of Limpopo.