Africa has entered a pivotal new chapter in the global competition for critical minerals, emerging as a central player in the world’s clean-energy transition. From the copper belts of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the fast-growing lithium districts of Zimbabwe and Namibia, the continent’s mineral riches have become indispensable to technologies powering solar energy, wind turbines, electric vehicles and advanced battery systems. After decades in which raw materials were exported with little local value added, Africa is now positioned at the intersection of geopolitics, industrial strategy and climate-driven demand.
What makes this moment different is the assertiveness of African governments. Many are no longer willing to accept a model in which raw ore leaves the continent while processing, value creation and high-quality jobs occur elsewhere. Across multiple jurisdictions, authorities are imposing stricter export regulations, insisting on domestic processing, and revisiting legacy contracts signed under less advantageous conditions. These moves represent not only economic strategy but also a political recalibration after long-standing imbalances.
Still, converting mineral abundance into broad-based industrial development remains complex. Infrastructure gaps are significant: unreliable electricity, limited transport networks, congested ports and insufficient industrial capacity continue to hinder growth. Global competition among Chinese, American, European and Indian companies shapes investment decisions, creating a crowded and strategically charged landscape.
Africa’s potential, however, is undeniable. The continent could become a global powerhouse in the green-technology supply chain — but only if it overcomes historic bottlenecks and builds robust, value-added industries. The coming decade will determine whether Africa seizes this rare moment to transform mineral wealth into inclusive prosperity or whether rising demand simply reinforces familiar extraction patterns.
