African Mining Week 2025 Opens in Cape Town

African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 has officially commenced in Cape Town, heralding three days of high-level dialogue, innovation showcases, and strategic collaboration across the continent’s mining and industrial sectors. Running from October 1–3, the event serves as one of Africa’s most influential mining gatherings, bringing together government leaders, investors, financiers, mining executives, and development partners under the central theme: “Vision & Strategy – Setting the Stage for Minerals Industrialization.” The conference aims to accelerate Africa’s transition from being a raw materials exporter to a fully integrated player in global mineral beneficiation, processing, and manufacturing.

This year’s program features an impressive lineup of keynote addresses, panel sessions, technical workshops, exhibitions, and investor roundtables, designed to foster actionable strategies for the continent’s mineral-led growth. The opening keynote was delivered by Dr. Oladele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), alongside Franklin Edochie of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). Their remarks set the tone for discussions around regional collaboration, value addition, and leveraging critical minerals for economic transformation.

A major highlight is the Ministerial Forum, which brings together representatives from Nigeria, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and other AMSG member states to deliberate on the theme “Extraction to Transformation: African Governments Driving Beneficiation and Value Addition.” The forum underscores the growing determination among African nations to retain more value domestically, reduce dependence on raw mineral exports, and strengthen regional supply chains. Complementing this is a dedicated Investor Forum, featuring influential African and global institutions such as the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), World Mining Investment, Apeiron Investment Group, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), who are sharing insights on funding models and best practices for responsible investment along the mining value chain.

The second day of AMW 2025 focuses on inclusive leadership and innovation. A flagship “Women in Leadership in Africa’s Mining Industry” panel will spotlight the achievements and challenges of women executives shaping mining’s future. Additional sessions include fireside chats with ministers, an address by Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), who will explore the nexus between critical minerals and the global energy transition, and discussions on formalizing small-scale and artisanal mining to boost productivity and safety. The exhibition floor features major mining houses and technology innovators, among them Rand Refinery Limited, B2Gold Corp. Namibia, Ivanhoe Mines, Anglo American, First Quantum Minerals, Pensana Plc, and Isondo Precious Metals, presenting opportunities across production, trading, and downstream sectors.

On Day 3, the focus shifts to country spotlights on Ghana, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe, where policymakers and industry leaders will unveil new investment frameworks, exploration projects, and incentives aimed at attracting sustainable capital. These sessions are expected to deepen investor confidence in Africa’s mining potential while promoting cross-border partnerships for infrastructure, smelting, and refining projects.

By convening leaders under one roof, African Mining Week 2025 reaffirms the continent’s collective vision to transform its vast mineral wealth into industrial prosperity. The event is more than a conference, it is a strategic platform to shape Africa’s mining future, foster international partnerships, and drive sustainable, inclusive mineral industrialization that supports both economic growth and the green energy transition.

Mini-Glossary

• Beneficiation: The process of improving the economic value of mined ore by removing impurities and adding value through processing or refining.
• Mineral Industrialization: Developing domestic industries to process, refine, and manufacture products from raw minerals rather than exporting them unprocessed.
• Value Addition: Enhancing a product’s worth by transforming it into a higher-value form, such as refining raw minerals into usable metals.
• Critical Minerals: Raw materials essential for modern technologies like batteries, renewable energy systems, and electronics (e.g., lithium, cobalt, rare earths).
• Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): Informal, often low-technology mining operations that provide livelihoods to millions but face challenges with safety, productivity, and regulation.
• Downstream Sector: The segment of the mining value chain that involves refining, processing, manufacturing, and distribution of finished products.
• Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG): A coalition of African countries focused on developing a unified approach to mineral resource governance and industrialization.