Africa seeks to build mineral value chains for lithium and gold

African nations are increasingly focused on moving beyond the raw export of minerals to capture more value within the global energy transition. At the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) Summer School in Accra, experts highlighted that Africa’s lithium resources are estimated to be worth approximately US$9 trillion. To capitalize on this, stakeholders are advocating for a regional mineral-feedstock value chain that includes processing, refining, and manufacturing, rather than just extraction.

In the precious metals sector, Ghana has emerged as a dominant force, leading Africa in gold production with 187.3 tonnes in 2025. The continent offers significant opportunities for gold and platinum-group metal processing, though profitability remains tied to energy costs and logistics.

However, infrastructure remains a critical hurdle. Power transmission gaps are identified as a major bottleneck, with up to 25% of installed generation capacity in some sub-Saharan countries constrained by grid limitations. Addressing these gaps in transmission and refining capacity is seen as essential for transitioning from resource abundance to sustained industrial growth.