🟩 Africa Sits on Nearly $30T in Mineral Wealth — But $8.6T Still Untapped
A new study by the Africa Finance Corporation finds that Africa hosts an estimated $29.5 trillion in mine-site mineral resources, representing about 20 % of global mineral wealth. Despite this vast endowment, roughly $8.6 trillion of these minerals remain undeveloped, highlighting the continent’s untapped potential and investment gaps.
Key Facts:
• Africa’s total mineral value is about $29.5 trillion, one of the largest in the world.
• Approximately $8.6 trillion worth of minerals remain undeveloped due to limited exploration, data gaps, and elevated investment risk.
• Minerals are mostly exported in raw form, while high-value processing and manufacturing happen outside the continent, reducing captured economic value.
• Developing local value chains (e.g., steel, aluminium, batteries) could multiply economic impact and job creation.
Expert Insight:
Africa’s minerals are a strategic asset for the global energy transition and industrial growth, but unlocking their full value will require better geological data, infrastructure investment, and deeper downstream processing to promote sustainable development and local benefit capture.
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