Rich in minerals, poor in processing: Africa’s green-energy dilemma

What the report says

Uganda Business News reported on 27 September 2026 that Africa’s role in the global shift to clean energy is being constrained by limited mineral processing and weak participation in manufacturing. The article said electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels and wind turbines rely on minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper, manganese, graphite and rare earths, many of which are found across the continent. It cited research commissioned by the World Bank that examined whether African countries are moving beyond extraction into refining and making green-technology components.

The study found deposits, reserves or production of at least one transition mineral in 48 African countries, but most states still export these materials in raw or lightly processed form. South Africa, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo were highlighted as major holders of several key minerals, while the continent as a whole was described as having a very small share of global trade and patents in green technologies. The report also noted that local processing is concentrated in only a few countries and often stops at basic ore concentration rather than finished products.

According to the article, this pattern leaves Africa with fewer jobs, less industrial growth and lower value capture, even as demand rises globally. China remains the biggest buyer of many African mineral exports, reinforcing a familiar model in which raw materials are shipped abroad for higher-value processing. The piece said African governments are beginning to tighten mining rules, seek ownership stakes and push for more local investment, but many efforts are still early. It added that deeper regional coordination, shared infrastructure and technology transfer could help countries retain more benefits from the energy transition.