Africa’s Critical Minerals at the Heart of the Global Energy Transition

By Brandon Moss

As the world accelerates its shift toward clean energy, Africa’s critical minerals are emerging as indispensable to the global transition. At African Mining Week 2025, experts warned that mineral production must increase by nearly 500 percent by 2050 to meet climate targets, with Africa expected to play a central role in supplying the necessary resources.

Lithium from Zimbabwe and Namibia, cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and manganese from Ghana are already in high demand for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies. African leaders argued that the continent must not only supply these minerals but also capture more value through local processing and manufacturing.

International partnerships were a recurring theme at the forum, with roundtables focused on strengthening ties between African countries and global powers such as the United States, China, and the European Union. These partnerships are expected to shape the future of global supply chains, with Africa positioned as a strategic player.

The challenge, however, lies in ensuring that the benefits of the energy transition are shared equitably. Without careful planning, Africa risks repeating the mistakes of the past, where mineral wealth enriched a few while leaving communities impoverished.