The Critical Minerals Africa conference, a pivotal event hosted in Cape Town and organized by Energy Capital & Power (ECP), has been rebranded to African Mining Week (AMW).
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, January 14, 2025 /APO Group/—The Critical Minerals Africa conference, a pivotal event hosted in Cape Town and organized by Energy Capital & Power (ECP), has been rebranded to African Mining Week (AMW). This strategic rebranding reflects the integrated opportunities across Africa’s energy and mining sectors, aiming to drive a culture of collaboration among these key industries.
Scheduled to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Center from October 1-3, 2025, African Mining Week is poised to offer a unique platform for Africa’s energy and mining industries to engage and seal deals under one roof. Running alongside the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 conference, AMW seeks to foster cross-sector synergies, showcase the continent’s energy and mining potential, and position Africa as a premier investment destination for capital, technology, and project developers.
Africa’s mining industry is on track to reach a market value of $135 billion by the end of 2027, with an annual compound growth rate of 5.6%. Factors such as rising demand, supportive government policies, and the introduction of advanced mining technologies are driving this growth, which will serve as a catalyst for broader economic development on the continent.
The wealth of Africa’s mineral resources is immense. The continent accounts for approximately 73.3% of the world’s cobalt production, 65.2% of the world’s manganese production, 43.3% of the world’s chromium production, and 43.7% of the world’s diamond production. Additionally, Africa holds a dominant position in the supply of platinum group metals, gold, and phosphate, with significant growth potential in minerals such as bauxite, copper, iron ore, uranium, lithium, and coal. This resource diversity, combined with a proven track record as a global supplier and pro-investment policies, makes the continent highly attractive for investment.
Amid efforts to accelerate the global energy transition while fast-tracking the development of sustainable mining and beneficiation, AMW serves as a crucial catalyst for investment. It provides an opportunity to address the challenges faced by Africa’s mining markets.
Concurrently, Africa’s energy industry is on the brink of accelerated growth. As one of the world’s final frontiers for oil and gas exploration, Africa is beginning to unlock the full potential of its on- and offshore hydrocarbon markets. Play-opening discoveries in countries such as Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Angola, Uganda, and Senegal highlight the substantial potential in underexplored markets. Meanwhile, the continent’s renewable energy and power markets are being rapidly developed with increasing support for projects in solar, wind, green hydrogen, and associated sectors. South Africa is targeting the development of a green hydrogen economy, Ethiopia is undertaking ambitious hydropower projects, Mauritania is set to launch GW-scale hydrogen projects, and Morocco has emerged as a major solar producer. These projects underscore the significant potential for energy companies in Africa.
Despite these developments, Africa has barely scratched the surface of its energy and mining industries. With much of the continent’s natural and mineral resources underdeveloped and underexplored, there is a critical opportunity for global and African players to collaborate and invest. The energy and mining industries, intrinsically linked, stand to advance even more rapidly through integration and cross-sector collaboration. It is at this critical juncture that the AMW conference plays a key role.
“The AMW event aims to create a dynamic and interactive platform that strengthens Africa’s position in the global mining and energy value chains. By running alongside AEW—Africa’s premier energy investment platform—the event strategically unites the two sectors, enabling participants to explore synergies, share knowledge, and identify cross-industry opportunities for growth and development. With a strong emphasis on continental beneficiation, AMW will drive value-added investments, and encourage greater M&A activity, while showcasing project and financing opportunities that generate high returns for foreign funders,” states James Chester, CEO of ECP.
“What Africa needs is more investment, specifically in strategic sectors such as energy and mining. The continent’s resources can redefine global supply chains, and with supportive policies, untapped deposits, and strong local partners, there has never been a more critical time to invest in African projects. Co-located in Cape Town, AEW and AMW are closely aligned, seeking to drive the next wave of collaboration, investment, and innovation in Africa,” notes Rachelle Kasongo, AMW Project Manager.
