Africa’s critical minerals – cobalt, lithium, copper and PGMs – are central to the global energy transition, powering clean technologies and EVs.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, January 13, 2026/ — As the world accelerates its shift from fossil fuels to clean energy technologies, Africa is emerging as a central player in supplying the minerals that underpin this transformation. According to the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) State of African Energy 2026 Outlook, the continent’s abundant reserves of critical minerals – including cobalt, lithium, copper and platinum group metals (PGMs) – position it at the heart of global supply chains essential for renewable energy deployment and electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
The energy transition is driving unprecedented demand for minerals critical to clean technologies. Solar panels, wind turbines, EV batteries and energy storage systems require significantly more cobalt, lithium and nickel than conventional energy systems. Forecasts indicate that global demand for these minerals could increase up to five-fold by 2035 compared to 2023 levels. Despite surging demand, global supply faces pressure from potential deficits toward the end of the decade. Questions around sourcing, sustainability and project development are intensifying as geopolitical tensions, concentrated refining capacities and supply chain vulnerabilities highlight the need for diversified and reliable sources of critical minerals.
Africa hosts some of the world’s richest deposits of critical minerals, making the continent indispensable to the energy transition. In 2024, Africa led global production of cobalt, copper, gold and PGMs, while rapidly expanding its lithium sector. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mali, Namibia, South Africa and Morocco are at the forefront of production. China has long been the largest foreign investor in Africa’s mining sector, leveraging government-backed initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative to secure resource access. More recently, the U.S. and EU have increased engagement, prioritizing strategic partnerships, infrastructure investments and cooperation agreements to secure mineral supply chains and support responsible mining practices.
Cobalt and Lithium: Africa’s Strategic Role
Cobalt remains a cornerstone of lithium-ion battery production. The DRC dominated global cobalt supply in 2024, with top mines including Kisanfu (51.92 kt, 19.95% of global production), Tenke Fungurume (48.08 kt), and Kamoto (27.2 kt). Together, these operations accounted for more than 50% of global cobalt output, highlighting Africa’s central position in this critical sector. The DRC is implementing strategies to capture more value domestically, developing refining capacity to convert cobalt hydroxide into higher-value cobalt metal. Ethical production, traceability and environmental standards are emphasized to position the country as a responsible supplier. Temporary cobalt export bans in 2025 helped stabilize global prices, and the government is now considering flexible export quotas to balance market stability with producer profitability.
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