Africa is facing a major opportunity to benefit from the growing global demand for critical minerals, but the continent needs to do more to process these resources locally rather than exporting them as raw materials.
Africa holds about 30% of the world’s mineral reserves but receives only around 10% of global mineral revenues, according to the Brookings Institution. The continent is a major producer of minerals such as copper, cobalt and manganese, which are important for electric vehicles, renewable energy and artificial intelligence technologies.
The growing demand for these minerals has increased competition between China and Western countries, which are seeking secure supplies for their industries. African governments are increasingly trying to use this competition to negotiate better deals and attract investments in local processing.
One major strategy is to build smelters and processing facilities within Africa. Countries including Zimbabwe, Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo have introduced measures aimed at encouraging more domestic processing of lithium, bauxite, cobalt and copper. The idea is to ensure that African countries earn more from their natural resources. Instead of exporting raw minerals and later importing finished products at higher prices, processing them
locally could create jobs, increase government revenue and support industrial development.
Infrastructure is another important part of the plan. The Lobito Corridor, which connects mineral-producing areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic coast, is expected to improve the movement of minerals and encourage investment along the route.
However, Africa still faces challenges, including unreliable power supplies, inadequate infrastructure, limited technical expertise and difficulties attracting financing. These problems can make local mineral processing expensive and less competitive.
The continent also needs to address conditions in artisanal and small-scale mining, where millions of people work. Reuters noted that efforts to formalise the sector could improve worker protection, reduce exploitation and help African governments capture more revenue from mineral production.
With global demand for critical minerals expected to remain strong, Africa has an opportunity to turn its mineral wealth into long-term economic growth. But experts say the continent will need better infrastructure, stronger policies and greater investment in local processing to capture a larger share of the value.
