Africa Advances in Mineral Value Addition Amid Growing Demand for Critical Minerals

Africa is seeking to establish value-added industries around its mineral wealth, moving away from its historical role as a raw material exporter. The continent holds approximately 30% of the world's critical mineral reserves, yet captures only 10% of their value.

Countries like South Africa and Nigeria are taking steps to promote local processing, with Nigeria tying new mining licenses to transformation plans. Collaborative efforts are underway between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to develop a battery materials value chain.

Initiatives such as Namibia's green iron production facility and Zimbabwe's lithium sulfate plant are emerging. However, China's dominance in mineral processing presents challenges. Experts urge African governments to create favorable investment environments, focusing on infrastructure improvements. The Africa50 investment platform is raising funds for green infrastructure projects, aiming to attract investments necessary to support the continent’s industrialization aspirations.