Will Critical Minerals Take Center Stage in the Global Economy?

Yes, critical minerals are already at the heart of global economic and security policies.

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The increasing reliance on rare earths, lithium, cobalt, and other metals for technology, defense, and energy transition (e.g., EVs, renewable energy) has made them as valuable as oil and gas once were. Key takeaways from the report that confirm this trend:

Geopolitical Bargaining Chips: Ukraine, Greenland, and Russia are leveraging their mineral wealth for political and security gains, indicating that critical minerals are now a form of economic and diplomatic currency.

China's Dominance & Western Response: The West is scrambling to build independent supply chains due to China's control over processing and refining. The U.S. and Europe are actively seeking alternative sources.

The Military-Industrial Complex: Critical minerals are not just about clean energy but also vital for advanced military technologies, making them a national security concern.

How Does Africa Feature in This Scenario?

Africa holds some of the world's richest deposits of critical minerals, making it a key player in the global race. However, as seen with the DRC's attempt to use cobalt for Western security support, Africa faces both opportunities and challenges:

1. Resource Wealth & Strategic Importance:

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) supplies over 70% of the world's cobalt, a crucial battery metal.

• South Africa and Zimbabwe have vast platinum group metals.

• Namibia and Malawi hold rare earth elements.

• Guinea has the world's largest bauxite reserves (for aluminum production).

2. Geopolitical Leverage & Risks:

• Like Ukraine, African nations could use their minerals as bargaining tools for economic deals or security assistance.

• However, instability (e.g., M23 conflict in DRC) makes sustainable mining difficult.