Global mineral demand faces structural and environmental challenges

Experts and researchers are highlighting the complexities and structural challenges within the global mineral extraction sector, particularly concerning Africa. Bright Simons, speaking at the Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy in Accra, argued that Africa must decouple geological exploration from mining operations. He noted that because exploration is currently tied to the intent to mine, much of the continent remains underexplored, often relying on outdated colonial-era maps. Simons proposed a model where companies are paid to gather high-resolution geological data using drones and AI, which could then be stored in national repositories to help governments understand their resources.

Simultaneously, a report from the Oakland Institute titled ‘RUSH: Global Scramble for Minerals Wages War on People and Planet’ warns of the environmental and social costs of the increasing demand for critical minerals. While the expansion of mining is often linked to the green energy transition, the report found that only about a fifth of the demand for minerals like copper, lithium, and cobalt currently comes from renewable energy sectors. The remainder is driven by defense, aerospace, AI data centers, and conventional transport. The report emphasizes that Africa holds 30% of the world’s known mineral reserves, yet its producing countries currently process less than 15% of their mineral output domestically.