By Henry Gabriel
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a leading think tank, has announced its partnership with Critical Minerals Africa (CMA), highlighting the immense potential for African countries to address environmental challenges, accelerate infrastructure development, and stimulate economic growth through the export of critical minerals.
In a whitepaper published in March 2024, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung emphasized the importance of robust governance frameworks that prioritize inclusivity and local content development for Africa’s critical mineral market and overall socioeconomic advancement.
As part of its commitment to fostering the growth of Africa’s critical mineral industry, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung will actively promote CMA 2024 and the various opportunities within Africa’s critical mineral value chain to its extensive network. The upcoming Critical Minerals Africa 2024 summit, scheduled for November 6-7, aims to position Africa as the primary investment destination for critical minerals. This event will be held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024 conference, providing participants with access to key leaders in energy, mining, and finance in Cape Town. For more information, interested sponsors, exhibitors, and delegates can reach out to sales@energycapitalpower.com.
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is dedicated to providing valuable insights into Africa’s commodity markets and facilitating cooperation between African entities, German firms, and global counterparts. This collaboration aims to drive sustainable development across various sectors, including critical minerals, contributing to Africa’s overall growth.
In a position paper published earlier this year, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung highlighted the need for increased cooperation between Germany and Africa in critical mineral exploitation, foreign policy, and security development. German companies have already made significant investments in Africa’s critical mineral value chain. For instance, BMW, in partnership with mining firm Anglo American and energy company Sasol, is piloting hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in South Africa to maximize the country’s platinum group metals (PGMs) industry. Other German automakers, such as Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen, are expanding their electric vehicle manufacturing capabilities in South Africa, leveraging the country’s well-established automotive market and abundant critical minerals like copper, nickel, and PGMs, which are essential for vehicle manufacturing.
During the Critical Minerals Africa summit, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s members will actively participate in high-level panel discussions, project showcases, and exclusive networking sessions. These engagements will highlight the lucrative investment opportunities available to German firms within Africa’s rapidly growing critical mineral landscape. Rachelle Kasongo, the Project Director at Energy Capital & Power, emphasized the importance of collaboration between African critical mineral producers and German/global stakeholders. This collaboration will drive the influx of investments, technologies, and next-generation skills necessary for industry growth, ultimately unlocking the full potential of Africa’s energy transition metals.
