Critical minerals must power a just and gender-equal future for South Africa

AS THE global race toward a low-carbon future accelerates, the country’s rich endowment of critical minerals such as platinum group metals, manganese, vanadium, nickel, and rare earth elements-has positioned it as a strategic player in the global green economy.

- LEBOBANG MULAISI

These minerals are indispensable to the production of electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy systems, and hydrogen technologies, making them central not only to climate action but also to economic transformation. As governments and industries worldwide compete to secure supply chains, South Africa must seize this moment to ensure its critical minerals power a future rooted in justice, sustainability, and inclusive growth at home.

However, like all extractive industries critical minerals come with environmental, social, economic, geopolitical, trade, and partnership challenges and opportunities. If poorly managed, the production and processing of these minerals can lead to a myriad of negative consequences, including significant greenhouse gas emissions arising from energy-intensive mining and processing activities, environmental impacts, including biodiversity loss and pollution, and social impacts including human rights abuses such as child labour and negative impacts on indigenous people's rights.

In addition, there is a supply challenge which could slow down the energy transition or make it more expensive and unequal. This is leading to rising geopolitical tensions over their control, interference in markets, and strong political pressure to expand mining, including into environmentally and socially sensitive areas.

To address the intricate balance between supply and demand, sustainability and resilience must underpin every stage of the critical mineral’s economy. Extractive industries must adopt climate-resilient, low-impact technologies.