Minerals offer path to clean energy, growth

Lillian Koech, Joana Amoako Tweneboa and Rahab Lanoi during the Africa Climate Summit at the KICC, Nairobi, on September 6, 2023. [David Gichuru, Standard]

The Africa Climate Summit 2023 provided a platform for productive discussions on the Africa Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS) and how it can drive growth across the continent.

As Africa takes strides towards a greener and more prosperous future, the AGMS stands at the forefront of this transformative journey. 

The continent has a lot of renewable energy potential, which currently stands at 44.8 per cent of the world's total, or over 5,500 exajoules every year.

Having reliable energy is important for Africa to build industries, and to ensure food and water security. To do this, Africa needs to use more renewable energy along with fossil fuels like natural gas.

Speaking at a side event during the summit, Paul Jourdan talked about how AGMS lines up with important plans like the Africa Mining Vision (AU 2009), the Africa Commodity Strategy (AU 2021), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said that 'green' minerals like aluminum, chromium, cobalt, copper, graphite, iron–steel, lithium, manganese, nickel, platinum group metals, rare earth elements, vanadium, and zinc are essential for AGMS.

Green minerals

Chiumya Chiza Charles, acting Director for Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism at the African Union Commission, said Africa needs to be practical about using its resources for industries.

Mr Chiza also talked about how AGMS helps with the AfCFTA and how it can make the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) better with a dedicated green minerals section.

Dr Marit Kitaw, interim Director of AMDC, talked about Africa's big mineral reserves, including important ones like chromium, cobalt, and manganese.

She said that the AGMS can use these resources to help African people while keeping sight of the continent's mining vision and ensuring strong protection from climate change, fair development, and a just energy change.

Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, talked about how AGMS can help find more resources by using geological surveys.

He spoke about why we need policies to promote value addition and create markets that will make things better for young people in Africa.

Prof Kevin Chika Urama, Chief Economist and Vice President at the African Development Bank (AfDB), said we need to use Africa's natural resources in a new way, and AGMS is a big part of that change.

Dr Marit said that African leaders will more talk about the green minerals strategy during the 4th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee of Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals, to be held from October 2-7 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.