Africa's crucial minerals foster unrest
In the heart of West Africa, countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania are actively involved in the development of critical minerals. However, it is Cote d'Ivoire that is making waves in the global market, particularly in the sector of coltan, traditionally dominated by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.
Cote d'Ivoire's foray into coltan exploration is spearheaded by UK-based company Switch Metals, which has launched an exploration program on the Badinikro permit, part of the Issia project in central Cote d'Ivoire. The country's ambition doesn't stop at coltan; it aims to double its gold production from over 50 metric tons (55 US tons) in 2023 to the same amount by 2030.
Meanwhile, the DRC, a country rich in critical minerals, is grappling with its own challenges. The mining sector, particularly in Kolwezi, has been marred by instability. An explosion at a mine shook the Gecamines neighbourhood, posing a risk to the remaining residents and highlighting the need for a faster relocation process. The COMMUS joint venture, responsible for constructing a new district in the mineral-rich region around Kolwezi, is working to address this issue.
Disputes over the rights to exploit the DRC's wealth of coltan have contributed to three decades of unrest in the country's east. The looting of the 3T metals (tantalum, tin, and tungsten) has made the insurrection by the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a coalition of armed groups in the eastern DRC, increasingly lucrative for the militants and their main international backer: the government of Rwanda.
Beyond West Africa, countries like Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria are increasing their production of critical minerals such as feldspar, copper, and manganese. The world's race to extract critical minerals could prove highly profitable for countries across Africa.
However, the extraction of these minerals is not without its challenges. A lack of coherent labor and environmental standards, as well as little cross-border collaboration, has meant that critical minerals have been a source of uncertainty in many African countries. This is particularly evident in the case of coltan, with at least 150 metric tons (165 US tons) being fraudulently exported monthly from the Rubaya mining site in the DRC and ending up in Rwanda.
In Cote d'Ivoire, efforts are being made to address these issues. The state-owned mining company, SODEMI, has partnered with a Chinese firm, Jiangxi Asia-Africa Xinghua Minerals, to develop a future coltan mine. Cote d'Ivoire is also developing its own enterprises in the critical minerals sector, with BRI Coltan being a notable example, which is developing a coltan-processing plant.
As Africa continues to play a significant role in the global supply of critical minerals, it is crucial that steps are taken to ensure sustainable and ethical mining practices. This will not only benefit the countries involved but also the global consumers who rely on these minerals for various technological applications.
