Powering Africa’s Mineral Value Addition: Energy Systems, Regional Infrastructure and the Viability of Refining (Future of Energy Conference)

Africa’s ambition to move beyond exporting raw minerals will depend on more than the minerals themselves. Competitive processing and manufacturing require affordable and reliable energy, effective infrastructure and stronger regional coordination.

At the Future of Energy Conference 2026, NRGI, in partnership with the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), will convene a side event examining what it will take to make mineral value addition commercially viable, fiscally responsible and aligned with Africa’s energy transition and development priorities. The session will bring together policymakers, energy regulators, development finance institutions, industry, regional bodies, civil society and researchers.

The discussion will also consider the potential for mineral value addition projects to anchor energy and infrastructure investments that benefit other industries and households, and the role of regional power markets, gas networks, trade arrangements and infrastructure corridors in creating the scale needed for competitive mineral processing.

Speakers

• Amir Shafaie, Legal and Economic Programme Director, NRGI
• Theophilus Acheampong, Technical Advisor, Ministry of Finance
• Rushaiya Ibrahim Tanko Esq., Global Policy Director, Energy Growth Hub
• Wisdom Puplampu, Minerals Economist, Minerals Commission