AISESA Webinar on Critical Minerals in Africa

The discussion emphasized the need for a sustainable and inclusive approach to mining Africa’s critical minerals, balancing environmental preservation with socioeconomic benefits. While mining is essential for the energy transition, it must minimize environmental harm, such as pollution of rivers and ecosystems, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels for mineral processing.

Collaboration between governments, companies, local communities, and civil society is key to implementing responsible mining practices that prioritize community well-being. It was noted that developing critical minerals should focus on higher value-added activities along the value chain, including research and development, infrastructure for extraction, and processing minerals into end-products like batteries.

The conversation highlighted the importance of intersectoral linkages to drive economic transformation. Fiscal linkages can fund diverse industries, consumption linkages can create demand in other sectors, and production linkages can foster technology transfer and economic diversification. Several African countries, such as Zimbabwe and Ghana, have implemented policies like export bans and local content requirements to retain value domestically.

Regional cooperation, like the Zambia-DRC agreement for electric battery manufacturing, strengthens Africa’s position in critical mineral value chains. Local content policies were recommended, focusing on skill development, local procurement, and equity participation. Incentives to encourage domestic development, such as building local factories and hiring local managers, were also emphasized.

The discussion stressed the need to enhance education and vocational training systems to meet the demands of the industrial sector and called for institutional reforms to improve financial, judicial, and labor market systems. With these efforts, Africa can leverage its critical mineral resources to promote sustainable development and long-term socioeconomic growth.