- In the six months to June 30, EU identified four major mining projects in Africa among its 13 globally strategic targets under the Critical Raw Materials Act.
- These projects spread across Malawi, South Africa, Madagascar and Zambia will receive direct EU financing and technical support.
- EU sees Africa as a key supplier of critical raw materials essential to decarbonisation, green technologies, and clean energy value chains.
In the six months to June 30, 2025, the European Union significantly ramped up its financial and technical support for Africa’s mining sector, aligning its foreign investment strategy with the continent’s growing role in the global energy transition. This renewed focus underscores Africa’s vast potential as a supplier of critical raw materials that are essential to decarbonisation, green technologies, and clean energy value chains.
In June, the EU identified four Africa-based initiatives among its 13 globally strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act. These include Mkango Resources’ 8,425-tonne-per-annum Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project in Malawi, Frontier Rare Earths’ 4,000-tonne-per-annum Zandkopsdrift magnet-grade rare earths project in South Africa, Evion Group’s Maniry Graphite Project in Madagascar, and a 6,000-tonne-per-annum cobalt refinery in Zambia.
Each project is set to receive direct EU financial backing and technical assistance, further underscoring the continent’s strategic importance in securing future global supply chains.
As momentum builds, Africa Mining Week 2025, which will be taking place from October 1–3 in Cape Town, South Africa, will serve as a high-level platform for showcasing Africa’s mining investment opportunities. The event is set to feature a dedicated EU-Africa Roundtable, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to sustainable development in Africa’s mineral sector and offering European investors a front-row seat to the continent’s rapidly evolving extractives landscape.
EU ties with DRC amid rising demand for critical raw minerals
In a move that reinforces its strategic mining partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the EU unveiled two new programs in June aimed at strengthening the country’s position in global mineral value chains. As the world’s leading producer of cobalt and Africa’s top copper exporter, the DRC plays a pivotal role in the energy transition.
Among the initiatives is the Cobalt for Development project, which seeks to formalize and uplift small-scale mining operations, promoting responsible sourcing and improved livelihoods. Complementing this is the Panafgeo+ geological mapping program, led by France’s Bureau of Geological and Mining Research in collaboration with the DRC’s Ministry of Mines, which will enhance the country’s geological knowledge and unlock new exploration opportunities.
These developments will be in sharp focus at Africa Mining Week 2025, where a key panel discussion, “The Cobalt Opportunity: DRC’s Strategic Position in the EV Revolution,” will explore emerging trends and investment prospects across the DRC’s cobalt sector value chain.
EU investment on Africa’s mineral transport corridors
Beyond mining operations, the EU is actively investing in the infrastructure needed to connect Africa’s mineral wealth with global markets. Already, the Africa Finance Corporation has secured a €250 million, 10-year loan from Italy’s development bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to advance the Lobito Corridor — a strategic trade route that strengthens transport links between Angola, Zambia, the DRC, and European buyers.
Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank has approved a €113 million loan to support the expansion of Mauritania’s iron ore rail line connecting the mining hub of Zouérat to the Atlantic port of Nouadhibou. This funding is part of a broader €461 million investment package aimed at significantly increasing Mauritania’s iron ore export capacity and improving regional connectivity.
Together, these initiatives reflect a growing EU commitment to not only secure critical raw materials from Africa but also to co-invest in the logistical and structural backbone needed to support long-term, sustainable trade partnerships.
EU’s €4.7Bn to accelerate South Africa’s green minerals economy
The EU has announced a €4.7 billion financing package to support mineral processing, green hydrogen development, and transport infrastructure in South Africa—the world’s leading producer of platinum group metals (PGMs). This significant commitment highlights the EU’s growing emphasis on building diversified, secure, and sustainable supply chains for critical minerals essential to green technologies.
At Africa Mining Week (AMW) 2025, a dedicated panel will delve into South Africa’s evolving PGMs market, spotlighting investment opportunities for European firms across the country’s mineral value chain.
Backing artisanal mining reforms in Africa
In a parallel move to support more inclusive and responsible mining practices, the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to the ACP-EU Technical Assistance Facility for Commodity Resource Management. Launched in February 2025, the initiative aims to assist artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) across Africa through formalization, capacity building, and access to training. This forms part of a broader effort by African governments and international partners to elevate ASM communities into the formal economy.
At AMW, the discussion will continue through a high-level panel titled “ASM Regulation: Balancing Formalization and Livelihood Protection,” which will explore innovative policies and strategies for integrating small-scale mining into regulated frameworks—while safeguarding the livelihoods of millions who depend on it.
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