SADC promotes responsible mining to drive regional industrialisation

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is focusing on local processing and value addition of critical energy transition minerals (CETMs) to drive industrialisation and economic diversification. This initiative was a central theme at the 9th SADC Industrialisation Week and Exhibition held in Durban, South Africa.

A five-year regional project led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) aims to promote responsible and inclusive mineral value chains. The project targets six countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These nations hold significant reserves of cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, platinum group metals, and rare earth elements.

The initiative seeks to develop ESG-compliant mining policies, enhance environmental and climate monitoring, and ensure local mining communities benefit from resource exploitation. Implementing partners include the African Union Commission’s African Minerals Development Centre, the University of the Witwatersrand, WWF Germany, and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources.