Africa is becoming increasingly important in the global shift toward clean energy and advanced technologies due to its wealth of mineral resources. A new report examines the continent’s endowment of 26 key minerals and highlights Africa’s potential as a strategic supplier for the energy transition.
The report presents a detailed regional analysis of Africa’s mineral prospectivity, identifying areas with strong potential for further exploration. It notes that Africa’s competitive advantage comes from its high geological potential and lower costs for discovering new mineral deposits.
Artificial Intelligence is playing a growing role in mineral exploration, according to the report. However, the report stresses that success in using AI depends on the strength of geoscientific data systems, which require further investment to maximize technological benefits and improve exploration results.
The renewed global focus on Africa’s mineral resources is seen as an opportunity to attract responsible investment. The report suggests that African countries can benefit by implementing balanced regulatory and fiscal policies. Such measures could unlock innovation, expand mineral processing and infrastructure, and support sustainable economic growth across the continent.
"Mineral Resources of Africa" highlights the continent’s rich and diverse mineral endowment, strong discovery potential, and lower exploration costs, with a particular focus on critical minerals. The mineral and metal-driven clean energy transition is refocusing global attention on Africa, spurring new investment in exploration and long overdue mine development. The report provides a comprehensive regional assessment of Africa’s mineral prospectivity, identifying high-potential areas even where known endowment remains modest. AI is transforming mineral exploration, but success depends on strong geoscientific databases—an area where investment is needed to harness AI. The renewed interest in Africa’s mineral resources offers an opportunity to attract foreign investment. By balancing fair royalties and taxes with industry needs, countries can leverage their mineral wealth to spur innovation, boost investment in extraction and processing, and drive job growth.