UNECA experts urge Africa to mobilize resources for green minerals

Experts at the Africa’s Green Minerals Workshop in Addis Ababa have called for enhanced domestic resource mobilization to effectively leverage the continent’s vast mineral wealth. Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the three-day event underscored the urgent need for African nations to shift away from raw material exports and toward local industrial processing. This shift is seen as a critical step in ensuring that the continent captures a greater share of the global value chain during the global transition to renewable energy.

According to UNECA, Africa is home to approximately $29.5 trillion in mineral wealth, including significant deposits of minerals essential for green technologies. Despite this abundance, the continent currently captures only a small portion of the value because it predominantly exports raw materials while importing finished products. Officials at the workshop emphasized that developing domestic industrial capacity is essential for building competitive green industries and generating the millions of jobs required for Africa's growing workforce.

The global demand for energy transition minerals is forecasted to triple by 2030, presenting a unique window of opportunity for African countries to industrialize. However, several challenges remain, including a lack of comprehensive geological data which continues to hinder the development of these resources. The workshop aimed to provide African policymakers and experts with the necessary insights and tools to convert these mineral resources into tangible economic assets that foster regional production and sustainable development.

By prioritizing value addition and regional cooperation, African nations can position themselves as central players in the global green economy. The insights gained from the Addis Ababa workshop are expected to guide national strategies in managing mineral endowments, ensuring that the transition to renewable energy serves as a catalyst for long-term industrialization and economic resilience across the continent.