Deep in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, cobalt and lithium mines have become the epicenter of a new gold rush. This time, the treasure is not precious metal but the minerals that power electric vehicle batteries and digital devices. Africa, long seen as a source of raw materials, is now at the heart of a global scramble to secure resources for the energy transition.
Global demand for lithium, cobalt and nickel is expected to quintuple by 2030, and Africa holds the largest reserves of several of these critical minerals.
The geopolitical chessboard of critical minerals
The race to secure cobalt, lithium, manganese and rare earths has turned countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa into strategic players. China, the United States and the European Union compete to sign extraction and processing deals. Beijing already controls much of the global refining capacity, but new alliances—such as the Copper Corridor between Zambia and the DRC—seek to build local value chains and attract Western investment.
What are critical minerals?
They are minerals and metals essential for clean and digital technologies, such as batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and electronics. Their supply is strategic and often concentrated in a few countries.
Energy and development: the growth dilemma
Paradoxically, many African countries rich in renewable energy minerals suffer severe electricity shortages. In Nigeria, the continent's largest economy, power supply is intermittent; in Zambia, droughts affect hydroelectric generation. Governments and companies are now seeking to build local clean energy infrastructure—from solar parks in the Sahel to geothermal plants in the Rift Valley—to power both mines and homes.
Governance and transparency: the missing link
Africa's history is full of 'resource curses,' where mineral wealth did not translate into social well-being. Civil society organizations and some governments are now pushing for transparency mechanisms, such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, demanding that mining contracts truly benefit local communities. The challenge is that the global urgency for minerals does not repeat past mistakes.
What does this mean for the world?
The future of the energy transition and transport decarbonization depends heavily on what happens in Africa. If the continent manages to develop local processing capabilities and strong governance, it could become an industrial and technological hub. If it fails, it risks remaining a raw material exporter, with the same problems of inequality and dependency. The world is watching, and Africa's choices will shape the global economy for decades to come.