Southern Africa Seeks Shift from Raw Mineral Exports to Local Processing

The SADC region possesses a wealth of resources that define the modern energy market. Zambia provides copper, the Democratic Republic of Congo leads in cobalt, and Zimbabwe holds vast lithium reserves, while South Africa supplies manganese and platinum. Despite these deposits, the region has historically functioned as a supplier of raw commodities rather than a manufacturer of finished goods. A new five-year initiative, supported by the International Climate Initiative and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, targets this imbalance across six nations: the DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The project promotes responsible governance and local processing, seeking to integrate environmental protections with industrial growth. Oliver Maponga, an economic affairs officer at the ECA, noted that shifting toward local value addition is vital for long-term economic diversification. Beyond large-scale operations, the initiative emphasizes the role of artisanal and small-scale miners. Often excluded from formal supply chains, these smaller operators are now viewed as key stakeholders. By improving their access to technology and financing, policymakers hope to ensure that the dividends of the clean-energy transition reach local communities rather than solely benefiting international export markets. SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi underscored that the region already possesses the necessary resources and partnerships to succeed. The current challenge lies in scaling infrastructure and local skills to ensure that the manufacturing of batteries and low-carbon tech occurs closer to the mine site, fundamentally altering the region's position in global supply chains.