A new report launched by the World Economic Forum in Johannesburg at the end of August highlights the need to unlock investment in Southern Africa’s critical minerals to meet surging global demand for clean energy and low-carbon technologies. It identifies financing gaps facing the region and showcases concrete case studies that can inform efforts to accelerate investment, drive inclusive local growth and position Southern Africa as a key player in the global energy transition.
Unlocking investment in Southern Africa’s critical minerals can position the region as a key player in the global energy transition.
Produced in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), with McKinsey & Company as knowledge partner, and under the WEF’s Securing Minerals for the Energy Transition initiative (SMET), the report focuses on 10 countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Sub-Saharan Africa holds nearly 30% of known global reserves of minerals critical to low-carbon technologies – including copper, cobalt, lithium, graphite, manganese, chromium, vanadium and platinum-group metals. Despite this potential, Africa currently attracts less than 10% of global exploration spending, revealing a stark gap between potential and capital flows.
“Southern Africa has the mineral reserves the global energy transition urgently needs, but finance flows are not keeping pace,” said Jörgen Sandström, Head, Transforming Industrial Ecosystems, World Economic Forum. “Our new research reveals the scale of the gap and practical, proven ways to close it. Sustainably unlocking this potential will be critical to regional prosperity and global energy security.”
“As we confront the major transitions of our time – from climate change to cyclical economic headwinds – Africa must be an active participant in shaping its own development path,” said Boitumelo Mosako, Chief Executive Officer of DBSA. “If extraction continues in the same manner as it has historically, the continent will again miss the opportunity to convert its mineral wealth into structural socio-economic transformation for all.”
Drawing on consultations with local and international experts led by SMET, the report identifies eight core financing barriers affecting the region: policy uncertainty, investment risks, energy access, transportation barriers, innovation lag, pace of industrialisation, skill gaps and demand volatility.
In response to these barriers, it highlights replicable and scalable solutions, illustrated by case studies from the region. These include the Lobito Corridor, Namibia’s green iron initiative, and Zambia’s mining policy reform.
The Lobito Corridor – A new railway-focused initiative to unlock export access for the DRC and Zambia by linking their mineral-rich regions to Angola’s Port of Lobito. Backed by the European Union, United States, Angola, DBSA and others, the project includes upgrades to existing rail lines and a planned 800-kilometre extension to ease bottlenecks and foster regional trade and investment.
Namibia’s green iron initiative – In April 2025, Namibia launched Africa’s first industrial-scale green iron facility, powered entirely by renewables. The new plant uses solar, battery storage and the region’s largest electrolyser to produce green hydrogen for zero-emissions iron production. Backed by the EU-Namibia Green Hydrogen Partnership, the facility plans to scale from 15 000 to 2 million tonnes annually by 2030.
Zambia’s mining policy reform – Zambia currently accounts for around 3% of global copper output, producing 700 000 tonnes annually. New national reforms, including new mining legislation, are boosting investor confidence and promoting greater local participation. Copper production is expected to reach 1 million tonnes by 2026, with a national target of 3 million tonnes by 2031.
For more information visit: https://initiatives.weforum.org/smet/home
