Africa stands at the forefront of the global energy transition – not only as a continent endowed with abundant critical minerals but also as a growing market for clean energy solutions and green technologies. Governments across the continent have laid out bold policy visions to industrialize and capture more value from these resources, from battery-grade minerals to electric mobility and renewable energy.
However, ambition needs to be matched by implementation, and partnerships will remain fundamental for unlocking investments, infrastructure, and access to technology, know-how and markets. Aligned with Mining Indaba 2026’s theme “Stronger Together: Progress through Partnerships”, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), The Critical Minerals Africa Group, UNIDO’s Global Alliance for Responsible and Green Minerals, and the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South, and the Paris Peace Forum’s Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals, are convening a series of roundtables to convene governments, industrial development corporations, regional and national investment agencies and industry to discuss concrete partnerships necessary to address key gaps facing Africa’s value addition implementation agenda.
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Powering Mineral Value Chains with Clean Energy
The first roundtable focused on the role of energy as a critical infrastructure enabler for competitive and sustainable mineral value chains. Organized in partnership with the Critical Minerals Africa Group, the session opened with remarks from H.E. Julius D. Mattai, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone, followed by a moderated discussion led by Theo Acheampong and Veronica Bolton-Smith.
Participants explored how reliable and affordable clean energy can strengthen competitiveness and unlock value addition across mineral supply chains. Discussions highlighted integrated renewable energy solutions, investment gaps, and opportunities for enhanced regional cooperation through special economic zones, power pools, and corridor infrastructure.
Mobilizing Finance for Value Addition and Local Manufacturing
The second session, organized with UNIDO’s Global Alliance for Responsible and Green Minerals, focused on mobilizing finance to support value addition and local manufacturing in Africa’s mineral sector. The discussion opened with remarks from H.E. Dr. Eng. Polite Kambamura, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Zimbabwe, and was moderated by Nicolas Maennling (UNIDO).
Participants examined existing financing instruments, identified persistent investment gaps, and discussed how development finance and blended capital approaches can better support Africa’s ambitions for industrialization and domestic mineral processing.
Advancing Standards Without Fragmenting Markets
The third roundtable, convened in collaboration with the Paris Peace Forum and the Global Alliance for Responsible Transition Minerals, focused on strengthening standards while maintaining cohesive and competitive mineral markets. The session opened with a statement delivered by Olefile Cisco Mashabila, CEO of the Botswana Geoscience Institute, on behalf of H.E. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Botswana.
The discussion highlighted practical experiences in the design and implementation of mineral standards that promote transparency, traceability, and inclusive development outcomes, while avoiding market fragmentation.
