As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen policy knowledge and accountability in the green energy transition, we will be releasing six new policy briefs in May 2025. These publications reflect our commitment to evidence-based advocacy and assess Africa’s position in global critical mineral value chains. Each brief offers practical recommendations to support more equitable, locally beneficial, and sustainable approaches to development.
Made [in part] thanks to a grant awarded by OSA SENEGAL in cooperation with Open Society Foundations.
Here’s what to look out for:
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Green Minerals: Reserves, Production, and Demand
Offers a regional overview of reserves such as cobalt, lithium, and PGMs within SADC. It explores production trends, rising global demand, and the region’s potential role in the global energy transition.
Key focus: Regional competitiveness, certification schemes, and trade leverage.
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Country-by-Country Statistics on Production
Maps out country-specific data—spotlighting the DRC, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It evaluates each nation’s contribution to global supply chains and identifies infrastructure and policy gaps.
Key focus: National capacities and regional harmonisation of mining frameworks.
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Value Addition in Critical Minerals
Assesses how Africa can shift from exporting raw materials to processing and manufacturing locally. The brief outlines the role of beneficiation hubs, SEZs, and innovation in downstream technologies.
Key focus: Industrial policy for value addition and beneficiation.
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Trade Patterns in Renewable-Tech Minerals
Analyses export data and Africa’s dependence on external processing hubs. The brief calls for stronger intra-regional trade and policy shifts to enable local refining and higher value capture.
Key focus: Reducing raw export dependency and expanding local refining capacity.
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Key Players in Green Mineral Value Chains
Identifies public, private, and international actors shaping the critical minerals landscape—from mining companies to regulators. It highlights the importance of ESG compliance and regional coordination.
Key focus: Stakeholder collaboration and responsible sourcing.
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Mapping Africa’s Corridors and Processing Infrastructure
Uses a geo-economic lens to assess the continent’s mineral corridors, logistics systems, and processing zones.
Key focus: Infrastructure gaps, exploration hotspots, and industrial clustering.
Together, these briefs form a vital part of the organisation’s evidence base for advocacy and policy engagement on Africa’s role in the green energy transition.
The reports will be available for download soon.