SADC promotes local critical minerals processing

At the 9th SADC Industrialisation Week and Exhibition held in Durban, South Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) highlighted a five-year regional project on responsible and inclusive energy transition mineral value chains. Led by the International — United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the project promotes responsible mining and sustainable industrialisation across six SADC countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These countries hold vast reserves of cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, platinum group metals, and rare earth elements. Implementing partners include the African Union's Nigeria — Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the University of the Witwatersrand, WWF Germany, the Germany — Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, and Projekt Consult GmbH. The project aims to develop ESG-compliant mining policies, improve environmental monitoring, and ensure benefit-sharing for local mining communities. A panel convened by UNIDO and ECA focused on aligning regional policies and empowering artisanal and small-scale miners. SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi urged prioritising investment in infrastructure, skills, and local beneficiation of critical minerals to drive industrialisation and economic diversification.