Enhancing Sustainability in Africa's Critical Minerals Sectors

Critical minerals mining in Africa plays a crucial role in the global economy, supplying essential resources for advanced technologies. The continent is endowed with abundant deposits, nearly 30 percent of the world’s share of vital minerals, including cobalt, lithium, manganese and graphite, which are indispensable for producing electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. The demand for criticalminerals for these technologies is projected to increase fivefold over the next decade.

Addressing these issues through international regulations and sustainable mining initiatives is essential for harnessing Africa’s mineral wealth responsibly. Proper management and ethical practices can ensure that critical minerals mining contributes positively to both local and global development. This issue of Trade Hot Topics, the second of a two-part series, focuses on some of the main sustainability challenges and proposes different ways to address them.