Australian mining companies are rapidly expanding their footprint across Africa as the global race for critical minerals intensifies. With the energy transition pushing demand for resources such as copper, lithium and other raw materials to unprecedented levels, Australia is positioning itself as one of the continent’s most influential foreign mining partners.
Africa holds an estimated 30% of the world’s known mineral resources, making it a prime destination for exploration and long-term development. Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed companies have seized this strategic opportunity, with 113 firms now active across nearly 270 mining projects throughout the region. Their operations span the full spectrum of the mining lifecycle—exploration, project development, and large-scale production.
Mining continues to dominate Australia’s financial markets, accounting for 65% of all new ASX listings and 60% of follow-on capital raisings. Investors are increasingly backing companies seeking copper, rare earths, lithium and other critical minerals essential for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and global supply-chain resilience.
Industry leaders say Australia’s deep mining expertise and long history of operating in frontier markets give its companies an edge in Africa. “Africa remains one of the last major frontiers for large-scale mineral discoveries, and Australian companies are leading the charge,” noted Travis Schwertfeger, Managing Director of Many Peaks. Major investment deals are often sealed during events like the annual Africa Down Under conference in Perth, a key meeting ground for industry executives, investors, and African government officials.
Across the continent, several flagship projects highlight the potential of Australian-African cooperation. The giant Kamoa-Kakula copper operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo—supported by Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining—has become a benchmark for world-class copper development and a model for future partnerships.
Namibia is emerging as another strategic hub. As the world’s third-largest uranium producer, the country is attracting heightened interest from Australian exploration companies. Firms such as Connected Minerals are advancing projects in the Erongo region, which has already produced more than 350 million pounds of uranium concentrate, the most stable form used in nuclear energy.
Despite booming investment, a persistent challenge remains: only 10–15% of the total value generated from mineral extraction is currently retained within African economies. Analysts argue that improved local processing, stronger regional supply chains, and equitable partnership frameworks will be crucial if African nations are to capture a larger share of the critical minerals value chain.
As global industries continue to shift toward renewable and high-tech energy systems, Australia’s mining push into Africa underscores its ambitions to become a central player in the worldwide competition for the minerals that will power the future.
