Africa seeks to move from mineral extraction to green manufacturing

African nations hold significant mineral reserves essential for the global clean-energy transition, including cobalt, copper, manganese, lithium, and graphite. While the Democratic Republic of the Congo produces approximately 75 per cent of the world's cobalt and South Africa is a major manganese producer, much of the high-value refining and manufacturing remains concentrated outside the continent, particularly in China.

To capture greater economic value, African countries face the challenge of moving from raw material extraction to domestic processing and component manufacturing. However, significant obstacles remain, including a lack of dependable electricity—with over 560 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacking access—and insufficient transport infrastructure.

Tanzania, a leading producer of natural graphite, faces a similar crossroads. While there are opportunities to expand into battery-material refining and rare-earth separation, the country currently struggles with shortages in technical skills, refining capacity, and supplier networks. Other nations, such as Zimbabwe, have already implemented bans on raw mineral exports to encourage domestic industrialization.