Africa’s mineral wealth is essential for the energy transition and for the hundreds of millions of people currently living in poverty in African mining countries. Whether and how governments and companies move to further extract this mineral wealth is not only economically and environmentally important for Africa, but also for the vital importance of protecting the world’s rapidly diminishing forests.

The world therefore needs a mining triple win: policies that can benefit Africa’s citizens, their environment, and the energy transition. These policies need to work for all if they are to work for any of them. But mining in Africa has been riddled with injustice. Humanity cannot afford to repeat the mistakes that have beset Africa’s mining in the past. To achieve a triple win, this time must be different.

There are a whole host of policies available, and many ideas from experts. NRGI has brought these together and considered how they may work to truly achieve a triple win.

Key messages

• Africa’s metals are essential to the rapid transition of energy systems away from fossil fuels. Africa holds 19 percent of the global reserves of metals required to make a standard battery-powered electric vehicle.
• This time must be different. Africans have not benefited sufficiently from mining in the past, and mining has led to deforestation and pollution.
• A triple-win is possible and necessary. A better deal for Africans will help reduce risks for investors, and support global industry efforts to secure more metals. While protecting the environment from mining will ensure efforts to move to a more sustainable way of life are not in vain.
• Time is of the essence. There are only 28 years remaining until countries representing two-thirds of the global economy aim to have “net zero” emissions, yet it takes on average 17 years for the mining industry to develop a mineral discovery and start production.
• Success doesn’t require “reinventing the wheel.” Numerous existing policy approaches will help. The report details seven that stand out for requiring the combined action of international and regional authorities, companies and governments.
• These won’t work unless the foundations of governance are in place. This means improved governmental capacity to design and implement policies, and transparent, accountable, and corruption-free governments and companies.

Over the coming months, NRGI will be talking with Africa’s regional authorities and governments, with companies in the mining and related energy transition industries, with development partners and donors, with academics and civil society organisations on how to improve these ideas to ensure they contribute to a triple win.