Harnessing Critical Minerals Vital for Africa’s Role in Global Energy Transition

Addis Ababa, April 27, 2026 (FMC) — African countries have been urged to harness their vast reserves of critical minerals to accelerate industrialization and advance sustainable development, as the global economy increasingly shifts toward low-carbon growth.

Speaking at a high-level forum on Africa’s critical minerals held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Board Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Hailemariam Dessalegn, said the continent stands at a pivotal moment in its development trajectory.

He stressed that Africa must make a strategic choice between capitalizing on this opportunity to build resilient industries and secure long-term prosperity, or continuing as a supplier of raw minerals with limited economic returns.

The forum, held under the theme “Harnessing Africa’s Critical Minerals for Green Industrialisation and Sustainable Development,” was organized by the UONGOZI Institute in collaboration with UNECA ahead of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development scheduled for April 28–30.

Hailemariam noted that although Africa possesses abundant reserves of minerals essential for clean energy technologies—including cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements—the continent largely exports them in raw form, thereby constraining its potential economic benefits.

He underscored the importance of moving up the value chain through investments in mineral processing, refining, and manufacturing, particularly in areas such as battery production and other green industries.

“The green transition must not become a new chapter of extraction without transformation,” he emphasized.

The former prime minister also highlighted infrastructure development—especially in energy and transport—as a critical foundation for industrial growth, while calling for stronger regional integration under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He further noted that no single country can independently establish a complete mineral value chain, stressing the need for coordinated continental efforts.

In addition, he urged African governments to strengthen governance and transparency, and to pursue equitable partnerships grounded in trade and investment rather than aid dependency.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of UNECA, Claver Gatete, stated that Africa holds nearly 30 percent of the world’s critical minerals, positioning the continent at the center of the global energy transition.