# African critical mineral extraction and processing > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/african-critical-mineral-extraction-and-processing > Updated: 2026-09-09T08:00:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Africa maintains a dominant role in the global extraction of critical minerals necessary for the energy transition, including cobalt, bauxite, and projected increases in lithium and graphite production. However, the continent faces a significant gap in downstream industrial processing, as most raw materials are exported to refineries located primarily in Asia. Recent data indicates a 36% increase in the continent’s critical minerals pipeline, reaching 658 projects. While exploration and development-stage projects have seen substantial growth, actual producing projects have increased by only 11%. This imbalance highlights ongoing challenges in converting mineral discoveries into market-ready volumes due to constraints in financing, permitting, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. Efforts to address these issues include discussions regarding the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to improve market access and regulatory predictability for investors. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: Africa mineral projects rise 36% as production lags behind exploration Africa's critical mineral projects have risen 36% to 658, but production lags behind exploration. Meanwhile, investors call for better AfCFTA implementation to improve continental market access. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/africa-mineral-projects-rise-36-as-production-lags-behind-exploration ### 2026-08-27: Africa dominates critical mineral extraction but lacks industrial processing Africa extracts 76% of the world's cobalt and 41% of its bauxite but lacks the industrial capacity to process these minerals locally, leaving value addition to refineries primarily in Asia. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/africa-dominates-critical-mineral-extraction-but-lacks-industrial-processing --- Cite as: African critical mineral extraction and processing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/african-critical-mineral-extraction-and-processing