Zimbabwe, Angola, and Ghana Showcase Bold Mining Targets at AMW 2025

By Bradley Riviera

At African Mining Week 2025, held from October 1 to 3 in Cape Town, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Ghana unveiled bold new mining targets designed to attract foreign investment and accelerate economic growth. Zimbabwe reiterated its plan to build a US$12 billion mining economy by 2030, with lithium and platinum group metals at the center of its strategy. Angola announced a surge in diamond production, targeting over 17 million carats by 2027, while Ghana revealed its goal of producing 8 million tons of manganese in 2025.

These announcements were framed as part of a broader continental effort to position Africa as a critical supplier of minerals for the global energy transition. With demand for cobalt, lithium, and manganese expected to rise by nearly 500 percent by 2050, African governments are racing to secure investment and build infrastructure that can support large-scale production.

Industry analysts at the forum noted that while the targets are ambitious, they will require significant improvements in governance, transparency, and environmental safeguards. Without these, the risk of resource dependency and social unrest remains high. Still, the optimism in Cape Town was palpable, as African leaders sought to demonstrate that the continent is ready to play a central role in the global mining economy.