African leaders at the just-ended Africa Energy Forum Cape Town put forward a bold vision: pivot away from raw‑mineral exports toward domestic beneficiation, regional cooperation, and equitable mining partnerships.
What was said
In a focused panel on Global Demand for Critical Minerals: Africa’s Big Opportunity, ministers from Uganda, Sierra Leone and Nigeria emphasised that the continent must escape its role as a burden bearer and become a powerhouse of mineral processing—a step critical to the energy transition.
Uganda vows ‘industrial revolution’
Uganda’s Energy and Mineral Development Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, urged a pivot from resource dependency to value addition, highlighting lithium as a game‑changer.
‘Renewable energy like solar requires storage… and that means lithium,’ she said. ‘If you have lithium in your country, you must focus on value addition. We’re manufacturing cars and buses in Uganda. We’re building charging stations… these industries must be based in Uganda—not elsewhere.’
Nankabirwa confirmed that Uganda is launching beneficiation programmes, energy deals with neighbouring Tanzania for low-carbon refining, and offering private-sector incentives such as power infrastructure rebates. She also noted: ‘We are training Ugandans to negotiate better deals and demand more.’
Sierra Leone demands fairer returns
Kandeh Yumkella, chair of Sierra Leone’s presidential climate and energy initiative, echoed the call:
‘We exported over $1.2bn in minerals last year. Less than $40 million went to the treasury. Royalties are not enough.’
Yumkella is advocating for African equity stakes in mining, wealth funds and local refining capacity. He warned that in Sierra Leone, valuable metals like rare earths and lithium are mined but processed abroad, costing the country billions.
He added that Sierra Leone’s mining sector needs over 500 MW of clean energy. They plan new hydro and solar systems to support mines and local communities—and are collaborating regionally with Guinea, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire on shared refining infrastructure.
Nigeria mandates on‑shore processing
From Nigeria, Olusegun Ige—Director‑General of the Geological Survey Agency—announced sweeping reforms: ‘Nigeria has stopped the “beach‑to‑port” model. We now mandate value addition in‑country.’
Nigeria is conducting nationwide geological surveys and has introduced an online decision-support and licensing portal. It offers tax breaks, duty‑free equipment imports, supports local lithium and battery production—and has deployed mining marshals to fight illegal extraction.
A united minerals strategy
Speakers consistently called for capacity development and technical collaboration. Yumkella emphasised that export bans only work once refining skills exist locally: ‘We can build that capacity, together.’
They also noted rising supply‑chain pressures—such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism—which means Africa must meet global green‑mining standards to attract investors.
The bottom line
African leaders are declaring a new minerals agenda: no more exporting raw wealth. As Nankabirwa put it, ‘We have what the world needs. This time, we will not give it away.’
Credit: Africabrieifing
