Outdated geological data hampers Africa's quest for mineral wealth
Resource-rich African nations face a critical challenge: the lack of accurate data on their mineral reserves. This issue could hinder their ability to attract the necessary investment for extracting and refining minerals into high-value products for the clean energy transition. Experts warn that the current situation may result in missed opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
The global scramble for minerals and metals essential for the energy transition, digital technologies, and military advancements has intensified interest in Africa's resources. Investors from the US, China, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe are vying for access, but the knowledge of Africa's mineral wealth is largely based on century-old maps and inconsistent geological data, as reported by policy experts and investors to Climate Home News.
Despite Africa hosting 30% of the world's mineral reserves, including cobalt, copper, lithium, and manganese, crucial for battery and clean energy technology manufacturing, the figure lacks empirical support, according to Bright Simons, who tracks natural resource spending for the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education in Ghana. Some analysts suggest this percentage might be an overestimation, while others argue it could be an underestimate.
Accurate and up-to-date data is vital for governments to negotiate better deals with mining companies and drive investment in mineral extraction and processing facilities, adding value to Africa's resources. However, the lack of good mapping has hindered the continent's efforts to capitalize on booming mineral demand and create jobs by processing raw materials into higher-value products before export.
Colonial maps and under-exploration have made it challenging for African states to attract investment and develop their resources. Former colonial powers often retain more current knowledge of mineral deposits, which African governments struggle to access. Thabit Jacob, a researcher at Roskilde University in Denmark, highlights the reliance on colonial maps in many African countries.
The underinvestment in mapping is evident in the decreasing share of global exploration investment in Africa over the last two decades. In 2024 alone, Canada and Australia received significantly more investment in geological mapping than the entire African continent, despite Africa's landmass being three times larger. South Africa, a major mining destination, has only mapped 12% of its territory at a detailed level, falling short compared to other mining hubs.
To address the data gap, multinational institutions like the World Bank have provided financial support for mapping while encouraging African countries to liberalize and privatize their mining industries. This shift has led to international investors dominating the mining sector, crowding out state-sponsored initiatives focused on data gathering.
Orina Chang, an investor in Somaliland's copper and zinc ore reserves, highlights the surprise of finding that even countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, attracting significant institutional miner interest, lack systematic, up-to-date mapping. Instead, mining firms rely on artisanal mining and surface signs, which is risky.
The mapping deficit creates uncertainty about mineral deposit sizes and qualities, discouraging miners from investing in processing plants. Without accurate mapping, investors are less inclined to commit, hindering economic growth and job creation.
AI-driven exploration tools offer a solution, providing high-precision information with less on-the-ground investment. However, the technology is expensive and not widely accessible to governments. The African Union's 2024 Green Minerals Strategy suggests reinvesting mineral rents into mapping using low-cost techniques, but these methods are less precise.
Greater regional collaboration and resource pooling could reduce mapping costs for individual governments. South Africa's agreement with South Sudan to cooperate on mineral exploration is an example of this approach. Sharing data, industrial intelligence, and technical expertise across borders could be transformative for African countries and other developing nations.
However, mapping is just one piece of the puzzle in the complex process of developing minerals for the energy transition. Eszter Szedlacsek emphasizes that deals are influenced by geopolitics, investment conditions, and trade ties, not just resource locations.
