Mining

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Ivory CoastAmadou Diawara, putting cyber security at the service of states

Guinea-BissauFatumata Jau, number one partner of international donors

EgyptMostafa Talaat, a gold prospector with big dreams

Kenya
Ruto waits on higher bids for much-coveted Mrima Hill mining site

Although a favourite in the running to obtain a permit for a parcel with a rich potential in rare earths, an Australian consortium must confront growing competition. The Kenyan president wants to leave time for other players to position themselves.

Nigeria
Jupiter Lithium initiates arbitration against Abuja

The British junior accuses the Nigerian government of failing to protect its lithium mines in Kaduna State. For several days now, rival trucks and miners have arrived on site to begin extracting the mineral.

DRC
Kinshasa harmonises regulatory framework to revive cobalt exports

Ten months after the DRC imposed an embargo on cobalt exports, followed by the announcement of a quota system, mining operators are still waiting for the go-ahead to restart business. Although considered imminent, this is unlikely to prevent a near-shortage on the global market in the coming weeks.

Central African Republic
Bangui strikes mining deal with Canadian group CVMR

In the run-up to the presidential election, the government has signed an agreement with a mining giant. The company has its sights set on uranium, coltan, copper, gold and nickel in the country.

DRC
United Cominière demands millions of dollars from Rahim Dhrolia's company MMR

The CEO of United Cominière accuses his partner Mining Mineral Resources of favouring, to his detriment, parallel circuits for transporting minerals.

DRC
Provincial minister and Tshisekedi cousin Berthe Lumbala takes care of business in Katanga

Responsible for mines in the Kasaï-Oriental government since 2024, Berthe Lumbala has developed private business activities in parallel in the south of the country. At the head of Viahara Mining, she recently signed a mining contract with Gécamines.

Guinea
The pitfalls of the national gold refinery project

Announced as a key infrastructure project in the Simandou 2040 development plan, the Nimba Gold Refinery is still a long way from becoming operational.

South Africa
EU and Pretoria set out next steps in critical minerals deal

A manganese refining project in the northeast has attracted the attention of the European Union. The underlying objective is to diversify its sources of critical minerals in order to build its own electric vehicle battery manufacturing industry.

Central Africa
Discussions on funding for mining and oil site restoration reach impasse

Despite years of discussions, the BEAC still hasn't managed to reach an agreement with extractive industries representatives. Negotiations are stalling over the sensitive issue of repatriating funds to the CFA franc zone for the restoration of mining and oil sites.

Nigeria
Northern mines tempt investors from Beijing to Washington

With a new Chinese-funded mining project potentially on the horizon, Abuja is trying to find a way to avoid further upsetting US President Donald Trump. A company with close ties to his administration has expressed interest in mines in the north of the country.