As the world races toward a low-carbon future, Africa finds itself at the centre of a new global scramble — not for oil or gold, but for green minerals.
Lithium from Zimbabwe, cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), graphite from Mozambique, and rare earths from Tanzania and Malawi are becoming the lifeblood of the clean energy transition. Yet, as investments surge, a pressing question looms: can Africa harness this boom without repeating the mistakes of the past?
A New Resource Frontier
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the demand for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements will quadruple by 2040 to meet renewable energy targets. Africa holds over 30% of the world’s reserves of these minerals, positioning it as a pivotal supplier for electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and wind turbines.
Countries are already capitalising on this momentum. Zimbabwe recently became Africa’s largest lithium producer, while Namibia and the DRC are attracting record levels of foreign investment in copper and cobalt. Mozambique’s graphite projects, like Syrah Resources’ Balama mine, are expanding to meet battery manufacturing demand in Asia and Europe.
However, as investors rush in, the environmental and social trade-offs are becoming impossible to ignore.
The Cost of Extraction
The “green” in green minerals can be misleading. The mining and processing of lithium, cobalt, and nickel are energy-intensive, water-demanding, and often leave behind toxic waste. In the DRC, artisanal mining — which accounts for nearly 20% of cobalt output — continues to be plagued by unsafe conditions and child labour. In Zimbabwe and Mozambique, communities near extraction sites face land degradation and limited access to clean water.
Without effective governance, Africa risks turning a clean energy revolution into a dirty development paradox. The African Union’s (AU) Africa Mining Vision (AMV) — launched in 2009 — was intended to promote resource-based industrialisation, but implementation has been uneven. Too often, minerals are exported raw, capturing minimal value while leaving behind environmental scars.
Adding Value at Home
To escape this cycle, several African countries are now demanding local beneficiation and value addition. Zimbabwe has restricted the export of unprocessed lithium, pushing companies to invest in local refineries. Namibia has adopted a similar policy for its rare earth minerals, and the DRC is pursuing a regional partnership with Zambia to build battery precursor plants under the Lobito Corridor initiative.
These efforts align with the broader African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) vision: using minerals as a springboard for industrialisation rather than a trap of dependency. If successful, such policies could help Africa capture a greater share of the $7 trillion global clean energy market.
Still, these ambitions face hurdles — from insufficient energy infrastructure to financing bottlenecks and limited technical capacity. Investors, meanwhile, warn that export bans may deter capital and slow project development. The balance between national benefit and investment competitiveness remains delicate.
Financing a Sustainable Transition
Blended finance and green bonds are emerging as tools to bridge the sustainability gap. Development banks like the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Afreximbank are mobilising resources to fund environmentally responsible mining and local processing facilities. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks are also gaining traction, with some lenders tying financing terms to compliance with strict sustainability standards.
Yet, Africa’s green finance ecosystem is still nascent. For many governments, the immediate fiscal pressures of debt and unemployment often outweigh long-term sustainability goals. This tension — between short-term extraction and long-term transformation — defines the continent’s green minerals dilemma.
A Global Partnership Moment
Global powers are watching closely. The European Union’s Global Gateway, the U.S. Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and China’s Belt and Road Initiative all include Africa’s minerals in their strategic plans. This geopolitical competition offers leverage — if African governments negotiate collectively, they can secure technology transfer, fair pricing, and cleaner extraction standards.
The upcoming COP30 in Brazil is expected to place Africa’s mineral governance at the heart of climate diplomacy. With its vast resources, the continent is indispensable to the global energy transition — but only if extraction translates into shared prosperity and resilience at home.
The Path Forward
Africa’s green minerals are both a gift and a gamble. They hold the promise of powering the world’s decarbonisation — and the peril of deepening old inequalities. To avoid becoming a passive supplier, Africa must enforce transparent contracts, invest in clean processing technologies, and build regional industrial capacity.
As global demand accelerates, the continent’s policymakers face a defining test: to prove that sustainability and prosperity are not mutually exclusive. The world may need Africa’s minerals to go green — but Africa needs a greener model of mining to truly thrive.
