The top 5 African mineral producing countries in 2023

Attention is drawn to the top 5 African mineral-producing countries in 2023, in the context of the abundance, diversity, and quality of vital minerals and rare earth elements in Africa. This made the continent’s mineral wealth a pillar of the global energy transition at the present time.

Africa’s vital minerals, which are essential to implementing clean technologies and establishing energy security, have become a magnet for prominent global energy and mining companies, according to a report seen by the specialized energy platform.

This comes as the energy transition continues to spur demand, and amid new discoveries of large-scale mineral deposits, according to a recent publication by the platform. Energy Capital and Power (Energy Capital & Power).

The average amount of mineral resources needed for a new unit of electricity generation capacity has increased by 50% since 2010, as the share of renewables in new investment continues to rise, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Lithium is used in the manufacture of electric batteries. Nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, and magnets are essential components of wind turbines. Electric car motors require rare earth elements. Electricity grids rely on a large amount of copper and aluminum.

In this report, we review the top 5 African mineral-producing countries in 2023:

minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the richest countries worldwide in terms of vital mineral reserves, and has the potential to become a competitive global mining hub.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo contains 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves, a key mineral for the production of electric cars and batteries, and has the largest mine producing up to 95,000 tons, or approximately 41% of global production.

In addition, the country offers some of the highest quality copper reserves in the world. Copper reserves attract a host of important companies to tap into the global energy market.

Vital minerals are the largest contributor to the Congolese economy, accounting for up to 95% of the value of its exports.

An estimated $24 trillion in untapped mineral deposits could position the DRC in a strategic position for an ongoing energy transition, if challenges associated with security risks and infrastructure deficits are addressed.

minerals in South Africa

South Africa is a leading producer of many vital minerals, including platinum group metals, manganese, chromium and vanadium, all of which are needed for the production of batteries and renewable energy components.

For rare earth elements, the country’s Steenkampskral mine has the highest grade in the world, while the country is also responsible for 60% of the global manganese supply, 75% of the platinum supply, and 40% of the palladium supply.

In 2021, the production of platinum group minerals in South Africa reached 285 metric tons, while the overall mining industry contributed about 8.7% of the GDP.

minerals in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a major producer of platinum group metals, including platinum, palladium and rhodium, and will produce up to 15 metric tons of platinum alone in 2021, according to the platform. Energy Capital and Power (Energy Capital & Power) on February 21.

Zimbabwe has the largest deposits of lithium in Africa, as the Bikita mine contains up to 10.8 million tons of lithium ore reserves. The country is critical to the production of electric vehicle batteries and is well positioned to become a leading supplier to the emerging global electric vehicle market.

minerals in Namibia

Namibia is home to large deposits of rare earth elements including dysprosium and terbium, which are needed to produce permanent magnets in electric car batteries and wind turbines, as well as uranium, according to information monitored by the Specialized Energy platform.

In 2020, the country produced 12% of the uranium worldwide, ranking second in the production of this resource after Kazakhstan.

Namibia contains critical resources for the production of nuclear energy, and Namibia’s position as a globally competitive producer provides new opportunities for the adoption of nuclear energy in Africa.

With a number of mega mining projects currently underway, including the Isenberg rare earths project and the Lofdal mine, the country is positioning itself to become an important mineral hub in the region.

minerals in Ghana

Ghana has a variety of minerals vital to various industrial and technological applications, and has emerged as a major producer of bauxite, manganese, lithium and rare earth elements, according to the Specialized Energy Platform.

In 2020, Ghana produced approximately 1.16 million metric tons of bauxite, and an estimated 640,000 metric tons of manganese in 2021, making it the sixth largest producer worldwide.

Recent high-profile lithium discoveries are set to position the country as a global producer and exporter, with projects such as the 14.5 million-tonne Iwoya mine, expected to start production from 2024.

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