CURRENT AFFAIRS the framework aims to position Africa as a manufacturing and green industrialisation partner rather than a supplier of raw materials.
A highlight was South Africa’ s presentation of its Junior Mining Exploration Fund, which is aimed at de-risking early-stage exploration and supporting discoveries across the African continent.
ANGLO AMERICAN:“ RECONFIGURING SUPPLY CHAINS WILL REQUIRE MORE THAN BILATERAL DEALS”
During a highly anticipated fireside chat, Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad described the mining industry as being at“ one of the most pivotal and complex moments in its history”.
Fragmented geopolitics, differing definitions of critical minerals, and volatile supply chains all present challenges, he said, but the real test lies in restructuring long-standing value chains.
“ No country holds all the minerals it needs, nor all the processing or manufacturing capacity,” he noted.“ Reconfiguring deeply entrenched value chains will require coordinated policy, multilayer partnerships and a Pan-African industrial approach.”
UNDP:“ FOR WHOM ARE THESE MINERALS CONSIDERED‘ CRITICAL’?”
UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, opened the dialogue with a pointed reminder of Africa’ s historical patterns of commodity production.
Africa holds 30 % of the world’ s known mineral deposits – likely more in unexplored regions – yet the central question remains: for whom are these minerals critical?
She pointed out how past commodity booms rarely led to widespread prosperity. With global demand for critical minerals expected to increase by up to 600 % by 2050, the continent risks repeating familiar mistakes without governance reform and regional industrial cooperation.
“ For every $ 100 of value in the final product, Zambia captures less than $ 3 when exporting raw cobalt,” she reminded delegates.“ With local refining, that value increases tenfold.
“ Collaboration is not optional; it is the only path to meaningful industrialisation.”
FROM JOHANNESBURG TO CAPE TOWN: MINING INDABA 2026
With SA’ s G20 Presidency now concluded, focus shifts to Mining Indaba 2026, where many of the same issues – beneficiation, exploration, regional value chains, governance and supply-chain transparency – will feature prominently in both ministerial sessions and boardroom discussions.
THE JOHANNESBURG DIALOGUE CLARIFIED: FOUR KEY PRIORITIES AFRICAN LEADERS INTEND TO ADVANCE AT INDABA...
• A unified African stance on critical minerals
• Partners interested in co-investing in regional value chains
• A transition from extraction towards industrialisation
• A more influential African voice in global minerals governance
IN A MEDIA STATEMENT, COLLEN DLAMINI, HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS SOUTH AFRICA, STATED:
“ Our task is to ensure that today’ s discussions become tomorrow’ s actionable results. That’ s exactly what Mining Indaba 2026 represents:‘ Stronger Together, Progress Through Partnerships’ – because only collective effort can turn opportunity into real impact.” IB
“ RECONFIGURING DEEPLY ENTRENCHED VALUE CHAINS WILL REQUIRE COORDINATED POLICY, MULTILAYER PARTNERSHIPS AND A PAN-AFRICAN INDUSTRIAL APPROACH.”
16 INBOUND SA / JANUARY 2026