'Unlocking Africa’s Green Mineral Potential: AU Launches New Observatory’ 13 September 2024

As demand for green minerals grows and global competition for access to these minerals intensifies, it is essential that Africa positions itself strategically in green technology value chains and ensures that it derives maximum benefit from its resources while ensuring that the exploitation of these resources occurs in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) joins the African Union in proudly announcing the launch of the African Green Minerals Observatory (AGMO). This groundbreaking online resource provides comprehensive information on green minerals across the African continent.

…The AGMO website seeks to support these objectives by providing detailed country and mineral profiles, offering insights into the vast potential of Africa’s green mineral resources. It is also a resource for key policies, reports and news related to African green minerals. In its first phase, the Observatory has focused on a set of eight green minerals and seven African countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe) with plans to expand coverage in subsequent phases. The Observatory is a collaborative initiative between the African Union’s African Mineral Development Centre and SAIIA, which serves as the technical partner. This initiative aligns with the goals of the Africa Mining Vision and will play an important part in supporting the African Green Minerals Strategy.

It also speaks to global efforts to support responsible exploitation of green minerals through initiatives such as the United Nations Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, which recently released a report outlining principles for enhancing transparency and investment and ensuring just and equitable management of sustainable, responsible and reliable value chains for terrestrial critical energy transition minerals…The Institute will continue to work closely with the African Union, the African Development Bank and other key regional institutions to promote ambitious, integrated and evidence-based implementation of the African Mining Vision and the forthcoming African Green Minerals Strategy. Explore the African Green Minerals Observatory: www.africangreenminerals.com