Billions Flow into African Mining as Strategic Mineral Demand Peaks

The sector's expansion is headlined by KoBold Metals’ $2 billion Mingomba Copper Project in Zambia, which launched construction this past May. Designed to yield 300,000 tonnes of copper annually by the early 2030s, the site represents a cornerstone of Zambia’s push to reach three million tonnes of annual production by 2031. Alongside this, Makor Resources is deploying a $30 million exploration program across its Muli and Kangili sites to bolster the region's output.

Downstream integration is moving from ambition to infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Buenassa is finalizing a multi-metal processing facility in Lualaba Province, targeting an initial annual output of 30,000 tonnes of copper cathode and 5,000 tonnes of cobalt. Future expansion plans at the refinery aim to quadruple copper capacity to 120,000 tonnes, signaling a shift toward domestic value addition. Meanwhile, Ghana’s Typhoon Greenfield Development is targeting the formalization of artisanal mining, and South Africa’s Gold Ore is pushing toward maiden production at its Turnbridge and New Kleinfontein sites before the end of the year.

Industry stakeholders will gather in Cape Town from October 14 to 16, 2026, to navigate the complexities of financing and technological integration. With global demand for strategic minerals sustaining high price environments, the conference focuses on scaling exploration risks through artificial intelligence and formalizing small-scale operations to ensure long-term economic gains.