The development of African metals and minerals on the continent is now seen as an imperative necessity. At the \"Investing in African Mining Indaba\" conference, several speakers stressed the importance of processing raw materials locally rather than exporting them in raw form.<\/p>\n
For decades, Africa has been extracting precious resources from its subsoil and shipping them to richer nations, where they are refined and processed. This practice is now considered obsolete and detrimental to the continent's development. The call is clear: African countries need to capitalise on their resources and invest in local industry in order to benefit more from the wealth they possess.<\/p>\n
Africa has large reserves of industrial minerals, including manganese, copper, nickel, cobalt, titanium, vanadium, lithium and rare earths. The continent is also a key player in the global market for platinum group metals (PGMs), chromium and iron.<\/p>\n
Demand for these strategic minerals is growing all the time, particularly as a result of the energy transition and the development of new technologies. Faced with this situation, African leaders are insisting on the need to develop processing units on the continent to ensure a fair redistribution of profits and encourage local industrialisation.<\/p>\n
South Africa, the world's leading producer of GMPs, is a good illustration of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. In 2021, the country's PGM production peaked at 285 tonnes. In 2023, South Africa still accounted for 73% of the world's supply of platinum, 38% of palladium and 81% of rhodium. The country also holds around 37% of the world's manganese reserves and remains the world's leading producer, with 7.2 million tonnes in 2023.<\/p>\n
However, local processing of these resources remains insufficient. Only 2% of mined manganese ore is currently processed in South Africa. Similarly, the production of ferrochrome, once a strategic sector for the country, has had to face challenges linked to the high cost of electricity supplied by Eskom.<\/p>\n
South Africa's Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, underlined the government's commitment to guaranteeing a stable supply of electricity and reducing administered costs. Measures are underway to encourage local value addition, notably through the introduction of financial incentives and structural reforms in the mining sector.<\/p>\n
South Africa is also working on improving its mining licensing system to ensure greater transparency and efficiency. Between the last Mining Indaba and December 2024, the country has already processed more than 1,400 applications for mining rights and permits.<\/p>\n
Duncan Wanblad, CEO of Anglo American, pointed out that South Africa remained a key player for the group, and that the African agenda at the G20 represented a major opportunity to defend the continent's mining interests. In his view, growth in the sector must be part of a long-term vision that benefits all African populations.<\/p>\n
The call for local processing of Africa's mineral resources continues to grow. Political and economic decision-makers must now translate these ambitions into concrete action so that Africa can take full advantage of its natural wealth and reduce its dependence on external markets.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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