According to MiningWeekly, the world's clean energy transition has increased demand for metals and minerals, and African countries have decided to take advantage of this opportunity to develop their national economies by strengthening the selection and construction of high value-added industries.
The idea was made clear Wednesday by mining ministers from a group of countries who met in the South African capital, Cape Town, for discussions at the African Critical Minerals Conference.
Malawi's Minister of Mines, Monica Chang 'anamuno, noted that Africa had lost too many opportunities in the past by simply exporting raw materials. "We need to make finished products in Africa," she makes clear. In Malawi's case, it needed to work with other countries to achieve this goal. For example, a metal mine mined in Malawi could be processed in a refinery being built in Tanzania.
"We want to create jobs for the people," said Martin Gama Abucha, South Sudan's mining minister. "We need to add value."
Tanzania's Deputy Minister of Mines, Steven Kiruswa, has revealed that the country is building refineries for key metals and minerals that have been and will soon be mined in the country. The country already has an alchemy. Nickel and graphite processing plants will also be built.
A large nickel deposit has been discovered in Tanzania, as well as a graphite and a rare earth deposit in different areas. All three mines are still under construction.
He noted that building key mineral value chains requires partnerships. Through partnerships, downstream industries can be developed so that African countries can also become producers of products. Africa needs to be confident and assured that it can develop local manufacturing with local resources.
Leon Godza, Director of Energy and Minerals at Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, revealed that the country is building a lithium salt processing plant. It is part of the country's mineral energy Industrial park project, which will be able to produce 135,000 tons per year when completed in 2025. The entire mine-energy Industrial park project requires a total investment of $13 billion, including the construction of two 300-megawatt power plants, as well as a graphite processing plant, a nickel-chromium smelter, a coking coal plant and a nickel sulfate plant.
Not all African countries can have their own smelters or refineries, and regional cooperation is important, he said. "The future of Africa's key minerals is very bright," says Godza. "The key to Africa's development is cooperation, cooperation, cooperation."
