Doris Dokua Sasu
Research Expert Ghana and Nigeria
Mining industry in Africa - statistics & facts
Buried beneath the surface of Africa is a wealth of hugely valuable and extractable natural resources, making its mining industry one of the most important in the world. Africa is a major producer of many key mineral commodities, with bountiful reserves of metals and minerals such as gold, diamond, cobalt, bauxite, iron ore, coal, and copper across the continent. Some of the major mining countries in Africa are Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
It is estimated that Africa houses roughly 30 percent of the known global mineral reserves, and these desirable commodities have been extracted, and often exploited, for centuries. The continent remains hugely attractive for foreign investment, especially China, where its outward FDI stock in Africa’s mining industry totaled more than 8.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. As a major manufacturer of electronics, China’s demand for raw materials is high.
Tantalum is another mineral used in electronic equipment. Tantalum capacitors are used in products such as mobile phones and laptops, as well as automotive electronics applications. DR Congo is the largest producer of tantalum worldwide, however it is a controversial commodity.
Whilst these commodities are important to everyday life, they have often been used to fund bloody conflicts and have thus earned the name “conflict minerals”, much like “blood diamonds”.
It is estimated that Africa houses roughly 30 percent of the known global mineral reserves, and these desirable commodities have been extracted, and often exploited, for centuries. The continent remains hugely attractive for foreign investment, especially China, where its outward FDI stock in Africa’s mining industry totaled more than 8.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. As a major manufacturer of electronics, China’s demand for raw materials is high.
African minerals in electronics
Most electrical products we use today are reliant on a number of different minerals, and many of these can be found in Africa, including as tungsten, gold, tin, and cobalt. Cobalt is primarily used in the production of lithium batteries and is often a by-product of the copper nickel mining industries. Roughly half of global cobalt reserves can be found in DR Congo’s copper belt, and in 2021 the country’s cobalt production totaled an estimated 120,000 metric tons.Tantalum is another mineral used in electronic equipment. Tantalum capacitors are used in products such as mobile phones and laptops, as well as automotive electronics applications. DR Congo is the largest producer of tantalum worldwide, however it is a controversial commodity.
Whilst these commodities are important to everyday life, they have often been used to fund bloody conflicts and have thus earned the name “conflict minerals”, much like “blood diamonds”.
