Provided is a process for producing a cable-shaped alkali metal battery, comprising: (a) providing a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive porous rod having pores and a first mixture of a first electrode active material and a first electrolyte, wherein the first mixture resides in these pores; (b) wrapping around or encasing the first electrode with a porous separator to form a porous separator-protected structure; (c) wrapping around or encasing the porous separator-protected structure with a second electrode which comprises an electrically conductive porous layer, wherein the conductive porous layer contains pores and a second mixture of a second electrode active material and a second electrolyte, and the second mixture resides in the pores of the porous layer; and wrapping around or encasing the second electrode with a protective casing or sheath to form the battery.