African Mining Week 2025 Highlights Urgent Push for Mineral Beneficiation

By Bradley Riviera

African Mining Week 2025, which concluded in Cape Town on October 5, underscored Africa’s determination to move beyond raw mineral extraction and embrace beneficiation as the cornerstone of its mining future. With the theme “From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa’s Mineral Wealth”, the event brought together governments, financiers, and industry leaders to chart a new course for the continent’s mineral economies.

Speakers emphasized that Africa holds nearly 30 percent of the world’s critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, all of which are essential for the global clean energy transition. Yet, for decades, the continent has exported raw ores with little value addition. Delegates argued that this model is no longer sustainable. Instead, Africa must invest in local processing, manufacturing, and industrialization to retain more value within its borders.

Country showcases highlighted ambitious strategies: Zambia announced plans to triple copper output by 2031, the Democratic Republic of Congo unveiled new Special Economic Zones to support electric vehicle manufacturing, and Botswana reaffirmed its commitment to diamond beneficiation. These initiatives reflect a growing consensus that Africa’s mineral wealth must serve African development first.