Africa Mining News of Week 39, 2025
Dear Africa Mining Community,
Welcome to past week’s roundup of the most important developments shaping Africa’s mining and exploration landscape. From transformative infrastructure projects like the Lobito Corridor to new policies, discoveries, and investments across the continent, the past days have been full of news with lasting impact for our industry.
In this edition, we highlight the DRC’s shift to cobalt export quotas, new gold and copper projects gaining momentum, and major milestones in uranium, zinc, and bauxite developments. We also cover pressing challenges, from environmental risks in Ghana’s gold sector to the tragic mine collapse in Nigeria.
As always, our goal is to keep you informed, inspired, and connected to the evolving story of Africa’s mining sector.
Enjoy this week’s insights,
Team AFMICO
Africa Mining News of Week 39, 2025
🚆 Lobito Corridor: Africa’s New Trade and Mining Game-Changer
The Lobito Corridor, a 1,300 km railway from Angola’s Lobito port through the DRC to Zambia’s Copperbelt, is set to transform mining and trade in central and southern Africa. As Africa’s first open-access transcontinental rail line, it will give landlocked mining hubs direct access to the Atlantic, cutting shipping times by up to 15 days and reducing costs compared to southern routes. With $10 billion in investment, the project also promises new roads, energy, and telecom infrastructure, alongside more than 30,000 jobs. Future extensions could link the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, making the corridor a powerful driver of mineral exports, trade, and regional economic growth.
📢 DRC to Replace Cobalt Export Ban with Quotas from October 16
The Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s top cobalt producer, will end its export ban on October 16 and replace it with a quota system to regulate supply. Quotas are set at 18,125 tonnes for the rest of 2025, and 96,600 tonnes annually for 2026 and 2027, with 10% reserved for national strategic projects. Regulators may adjust quotas based on market trends and progress in local refining, and companies exceeding limits risk having stocks bought back. The previous ban had disrupted supply chains, forcing firms like Glencore and CMOC to declare force majeure. While Glencore supports the new system, CMOC opposes it. With cobalt vital for EV batteries, the policy is expected to impact global supply, prices, and traceability, against a backdrop of ongoing conflict and illegal mining in eastern DRC.
✒️ Nex Metals Signs MoU to Operate North Hennai Gold Project in Egypt
Nex Metals Explorations has signed an MoU to operate the North Hennai gold project in Egypt, marking its entry into the country’s growing mining sector. Under the deal, Nex will cover all development costs in exchange for a 44% stake, while Golden Eagle and Shalateen Mineral Resources Company will hold 20% and 36% respectively. Exploration plans include trenching and drilling to define the resource and improve production efficiency. With Egypt’s gold potential estimated at 7.3 million ounces and global prices up 40% this year, the project highlights increasing international interest in the Eastern Desert, where major players like Barrick and Aton are also active.
📢 DRC President: Congo Will Not ‘Auction’ Its Minerals to the US
DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has made it clear that while he values US efforts in mediating peace with Rwanda, Congo will not “auction” its minerals to foreign powers. He stressed that the country’s priority is to build value chains, infrastructure, and energy capacity rather than simply exporting raw materials. Congo, already in a strategic mining partnership with China, is also negotiating one with the US, but insists on maintaining sovereignty over its resources. The success of the US-brokered peace deal depends on Rwanda ending support for M23 rebels, whose actions fuel conflict in eastern Congo. Tshisekedi emphasized that Congo’s mineral wealth must serve its people through responsible and sustainable development.
✅ Exploration Results Validate Copper Potential at Kitumba Project in Zambia
Patriot Resources has confirmed promising copper mineralisation at its Kitumba 27715 Project in Zambia, with assays showing grades up to 0.34% Cu and a 40 m copper-bearing strike that remains open for further exploration. The project lies within Zambia’s IOCG corridor near the world-class Sinomine Kitumba deposit, adding to its strategic importance. Recent work included trench cleaning, mapping, and 144 rock-chip samples, all pointing to strong copper potential. Patriot now plans more trenching and geophysical surveys to target deeper sulphide zones and extend mineralisation, reinforcing Zambia’s growing role as a key copper exploration and supply hub.
✒️ Mali Signs More Mining Deals Under New Code
Mali has signed seven new mining agreements under its revised 2023 mining code, which raises royalties from 6.5% to 10% and boosts minimum state and local ownership to 35%. The deals involve major projects such as Allied Gold’s Sadiola, B2Gold’s Fekola, Resolute’s Syama, and Ganfeng Lithium’s Bougouni. The government will now hold a guaranteed stake in projects with priority access to dividends, strengthening its revenue share. While this marks a step toward resource nationalism and diversifying partnerships beyond Western investors, disputes like the ongoing conflict with Barrick Mining reveal challenges in regulatory stability and investor confidence. As Africa’s third-largest gold producer, Mali is positioning itself more assertively in global mining.
💸 Appian Secures $150M to Expand Namibia’s Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine
Appian Capital Advisory has secured $150 million from Standard Bank to finish expanding the Rosh Pinah Zinc mine in Namibia, with commissioning set for Q3 2026. The RP2.0 project is already 80% complete and will nearly double annual output to 1.3 million tonnes, or about 170 million pounds of zinc. The expansion includes new underground deposits, a modern processing plant, paste fill, water treatment, and a new portal. With 30% of the mine’s energy already supplied by solar and capacity set to triple, the project will lower costs and boost sustainability, reinforcing Namibia’s role in the global zinc supply chain.
⚠️ Ghana’s Gold Rush Sparks Alarming Mercury and Arsenic Pollution
A government-backed study in Ghana has revealed severe mercury and arsenic pollution linked to unregulated artisanal gold mining, creating a major health crisis. Despite a ban on mercury use, contamination levels in soil, water, crops, and fish have soared far beyond World Health Organization safety limits, with some soil samples showing mercury 134 times higher and arsenic over 4,000% above guidelines. Doctors report rising kidney damage in children, with some even ingesting mercury pellets by accident. While artisanal gold exports surged to $6.3 billion in the first eight months of 2025, the toxic fallout has spread across all 13 mining regions, prompting protests. Although President Dramani Mahama has promised stronger enforcement, critics say action is too slow. Experts warn that long-term exposure to these toxins through food, water, and air poses a grave threat that demands urgent national and international intervention.
🏅 Newmont’s Ahafo North Project Achieves First Gold Pour in Ghana
Newmont Corporation has celebrated the first gold pour at its Ahafo North project in Ghana, a major milestone ahead of full commercial production expected in late 2025. Located near Ahafo South, the mine is projected to produce 275,000–325,000 ounces of gold annually over a 13-year lifespan. The project has already created about 4,500 development jobs and will provide 560 permanent positions plus 1,000 contracted roles once operational. Beyond employment, it will contribute to Ghana’s economy through royalties, taxes, and community programs. This achievement establishes Ahafo North as Newmont’s second mine in Ghana and signals its strengthened long-term commitment to West Africa’s gold industry.
💸 Canyon Resources Secures $141M for Cameroon’s First Bauxite Mine
Canyon Resources Ltd has raised US$141 million to develop the Minim Martap Project, which will be Cameroon’s first bauxite mine. The financing, backed by Afriland First Bank and major shareholder Eagle Eye Asset Holdings, includes a two-tranche share placement and an extra A$10 million from options exercised by Eagle Eye. The funds will go toward mine construction and increasing Canyon’s stake in Camrail, the railway operator that will handle bauxite transport. This project marks a breakthrough for Cameroon, setting the country on course to join the global bauxite market while also improving its mining and transport infrastructure.
📑 GoviEx Files ESIA for Muntanga Uranium Project in Zambia
GoviEx Uranium has filed its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Muntanga Project in Zambia, a key step toward obtaining an environmental permit. With ZEMA already having no objections to the draft, final approval is expected within six months. The project, planned as a shallow open-pit, heap leach uranium mine with a 12-year life, shows strong economics with a USD 243 million after-tax NPV and 20.8% IRR at a uranium price of USD 90/lb. As part of its growth strategy, GoviEx is rebranding as Atomic Eagle Ltd through a reverse takeover of Tombador Iron, aiming to boost financing and accelerate development. Positioned as one of the few near-term uranium projects worldwide, Muntanga is set to play an important role in meeting rising nuclear fuel demand during the global energy transition.
🌍 Uranium Boost for Tanzania’s Manyoni Project
Moab Minerals Ltd has upgraded the uranium resource at Tanzania’s Manyoni Project by 25%, now estimated at 27.19 million pounds of uranium oxide at 136 ppm under JORC 2012 standards. The discovery of high-grade zones, along with shallow overburden and flat-lying deposits, is expected to reduce costs and support efficient mining. Current work includes environmental studies, baseline assessments, and metallurgical testing to refine processing methods. As the project moves toward permitting and feasibility, it is positioning itself as a key development in Tanzania’s uranium sector, with an emphasis on sustainability and community engagement.
🕯️ Over 100 Feared Dead in Nigerian Gold Mine Collapse
A major tragedy struck Zamfara State, Nigeria, where a gold mine collapse at the Kadauri site left more than 100 artisanal miners feared dead. The incident happened while miners were underground, with survivors reporting that only about 15 people made it out alive, many of them injured. So far, 13 bodies have been recovered, and even some rescuers lost their lives trying to save others. With no official statement yet from authorities, the disaster underscores the severe dangers of illegal and unregulated mining in the region, where unsafe practices and gang control often lead to deadly accidents.
⛏️ Kula Sets Sights on Maiden Drilling at Wozi in November
Kula Gold Ltd is preparing to start its first-ever drilling program at the Wozi project in Malawi this November 2025, earlier than expected, after soil sampling revealed promising anomalies. The company has secured the exploration license and aims to confirm subsurface continuity and grades through this campaign. Kula is also considering expanding its footprint by evaluating nearby tenures. The move shows confidence in the project’s potential, and investors will be watching closely for drilling results that could prove Wozi to be a strong exploration opportunity.
🍂 Mining Earnings at Risk: Barclays Warns of 25% Drop from Nature-Related Threats
Barclays warns that mining companies could lose up to 25% of their earnings within the next five years because of growing nature-related risks such as water shortages, stricter environmental rules, and ecosystem damage. The bank’s study of 250 mines from 30 large companies shows that most mining assets are located in sensitive or water-stressed areas, making copper mines in Australia, South Africa, and Chile especially vulnerable. Power companies face smaller risks, with potential losses of about 10%. While the World Economic Forum sees a $430 billion opportunity in adopting nature-positive practices, there is still a $700 billion gap in biodiversity financing. Barclays notes that although data is incomplete, enough information exists to start acting and investing in sustainable solutions.