Nuclear power could help meet Africa’s growing electricity needs, including rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres, according to North-West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor Prof. Bismark Tyobeka

“It is a match made in heaven,” said Tyobeka, a nuclear energy expert, who made the case during an NWU public lecture on AI and nuclear power.

The argument comes as electricity demand from data centres is expected to rise sharply as AI develops.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects global data-centre electricity consumption to roughly double by 2030, although renewables are expected to meet a substantial share of the additional demand.

Tyobeka said many African countries would need additional reliable generation to support economic and technological growth.

“These two fields are converging to address one of the world’s most pressing energy challenges: delivering reliable, clean and secure electricity for a sustainable future,” he said.

“The need for more electricity therefore immediately accompanies our advances in artificial intelligence,” he said.

But we do not only need electricity, he added, we also need clean electricity.

Nuclear power can provide continuous, low-carbon electricity, while small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors are being developed as potentially more flexible alternatives to conventional plants.

“SMRs and microreactors are particularly well suited because their size allows them to be deployed almost anywhere. They can be built in factories,” said Tyobeka.

He also argued that AI could improve nuclear-plant safety and maintenance.“AI is a game changer,” he said.

“It can potentially enhance the safety features of nuclear power-plant designs. It can help us optimise the efficiency of nuclear power plants. It can also help us make rapid decisions across the entire nuclear value chain.”

However, nuclear projects face significant challenges, including high upfront costs, lengthy construction times, regulation, waste management and public acceptance.

“People do not trust AI as we sit here. People do not trust nuclear power as we speak. How do you secure buy-in from such suspicious people? Transparency is key.”

Tyobeka said nuclear investment could also support African mining, manufacturing and mineral processing.

“Nuclear power can enable Africa’s AI and industrial future. We have seen that the need is real and the opportunity is now.”

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Chinese construction machinery and equipment manufacturers, XCMG and SANY, both reported strong growth from Africa and other overseas territories in recent results round ups

SANY Heavy Industry reported H1 2026 revenues of approximately US$7.9bn, up 19.49% year over year — with Africa the single fastest-growing region.

Total overseas revenues reached US$4.7bn, up 21.82% and representing 61.33% of the company’s core business revenue.

Africa outstripped other regions, with revenues growing 47.66% to US%790.2mn.In a statement, SANY Heavy Industry also highlighted how its strategy in Africa is maturing as it seeks to nurture close ties to local markets.

“The company is moving from product exports toward localised industrial operations overseas, bringing sales, services, product development and operations closer to local markets,” it noted.

With all its major product lines — covering piling, concrete, lifting, excavation and road machinery — reporting strong growth, the company outlined moves to reform overseas organisation and strengthen production innovation and R&D management.

XCMG also reaffirmed its global ambitions after reporting that its overseas revenues had exceeded 50% of its total revenues for the first time — reaching approximately US$4.56bn for the H1 2026 period.

Africa was also highlighted as an increasingly significant market, for a company that now operates more than 60 overseas subsidiaries — during the first half of 2026, it established a new trading subsidiary in Nigeria.

“The company's global network also includes more than 300 overseas dealers and over 2,000 service and spare parts outlets,” it said in a statement.

“Construction of overhaul centres in Indonesia, and Simandou, Africa, is progressing as planned, further strengthening XCMG's overseas aftermarket service capabilities.”

The company has previously announced a series of work orders for the giant Simandou mining and infrastructure mega project in Guinea, West Africa.

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Discussions at Electra Mining Africa pointed to a changing operating environment for mining companies across the continent. With ageing processing assets, tighter capital budgets and increasing expectations around productivity, reliability and sustainability, operators are placing greater emphasis on improving the performance of existing infrastructure rather than committing to major greenfield projects

For FLS, this shift is reinforcing a move towards a lifecycle-focused service model. The company is combining flowsheet expertise with regional service capabilities, optimisation solutions and local technical support to help mining customers improve plant performance throughout the life of a mine.

Bernard Kaninda, President of Sales and Services for Africa at FLS, said conversations with customers at Electra Mining Africa showed that operational improvements are increasingly taking precedence over major capital projects.

"Many operations are looking to increase throughput, improve recovery and extend plant life without committing to significant capital expenditure," stated Kaninda.

"That places greater emphasis on service-led interventions such as process optimisation, audits, upgrades, retrofits and lifecycle support that allow customers to unlock additional value from assets already in operation."

Kaninda said the changing priorities also reflect an evolution in FLS's relationship with mining companies.

"Our objective is to become a long-term lifecycle partner rather than simply an equipment supplier. We work alongside customers throughout the life of mine to improve plant performance, minimise downtime and reduce operating costs while supporting their long-term production objectives."

The need for this approach is particularly pronounced across Africa, where ageing equipment, limited investment capacity and increasingly complex orebodies are creating demand for more comprehensive operational support.

Alistair McKay, vice-president capital sales, Europe, Arabia and Africa, said the continent's varied geology further increases the need for tailored mineral processing strategies.

"The continent encompasses Copperbelt copper-cobalt operations, West African gold, South African platinum group metals, iron ore and numerous other commodities, each presenting unique processing challenges," McKay says. "Supporting this diversity requires far more than individual products. It requires the ability to engineer and optimise complete mineral processing flowsheets tailored to each orebody and operating environment."

Operational challenges also extend beyond processing requirements, particularly for mines operating in remote areas.

"Many African mines operate in remote locations where long supply chains, customs delays and logistical constraints mean equipment reliability becomes inseparable from service capability. Maintaining operational continuity requires local technical support, regional parts availability and lifecycle partnerships that minimise production interruptions."

With operators seeking performance improvements without replacing complete processing circuits, equipment modernisation is becoming an increasingly important tool.

"Many mines are extending the operating life of existing assets through rebuilds, retrofits and targeted upgrades," added Kaninda. "These solutions often deliver significant improvements in throughput, energy efficiency and reliability while requiring substantially lower capital investment than complete equipment replacement."

Digital technologies are also contributing to asset optimisation, particularly where mining operations are geographically isolated.

"Remote condition monitoring, predictive maintenance and digital diagnostics allow customers to identify potential issues before they develop into failures," he says. "These technologies are particularly valuable at isolated operations where specialist technical resources are not always immediately available."

FLS is also expanding its regional service infrastructure to support this lifecycle model. Kaninda points to the expansion of the Chloorkop service centre in South Africa and the establishment of a new service centre in Accra, Ghana, as initiatives intended to bring engineering expertise, repair capabilities, spare parts and technical support closer to mining operations.

"Reducing downtime is not simply about responding quickly when equipment fails," stated Kaninda. "It is about ensuring customers have immediate access to skilled technicians, specialist repair capability, critical spare and wear parts and engineering expertise within the region. Local proximity significantly shortens response times and reduces dependence on lengthy overseas supply chains."

The company is placing particular emphasis on regional teams working directly with customers.

"Our strategy is built around people on the ground who understand local operating conditions and customer requirements. That local knowledge enables faster decision-making, stronger customer relationships and more effective technical support."

For Nico Erasmus, vice-president and head of pumps, Cyclones and Valves (PCV), Africa, equipment reliability needs to be considered alongside the logistical realities of operating mines across the continent.

"In many parts of southern and central Africa, uptime depends not only on equipment performance but also on the ability to support that equipment quickly and effectively," Erasmus says. "A pump or valve failure can stop production for an extended period if replacement parts or repair capability are not readily available. Reliability therefore means resilience across the entire support ecosystem."

FLS's Stormill PCV Service Centre supports this approach by providing specialised repair, refurbishment and technical services for pumps, cyclones and valves in the region.

"Having local service capability allows us to restore critical equipment much faster than relying solely on overseas facilities," hesaid. "It also creates opportunities to develop local technical expertise and strengthen skills within the African mining industry."

Erasmus said rebuilds and upgrades are becoming increasingly relevant as mining companies contend with import costs, currency volatility and longer lead times for replacement equipment.

"Rebuilding and upgrading existing equipment often provides a more cost-effective solution than importing new assets, while extending equipment life and maintaining operational performance."

Resource efficiency is another consideration for mining operations facing constraints around water and energy.

"In many African mining regions, water availability and energy security have become operational constraints. Improving slurry transport efficiency not only lowers operating costs but also reduces water and energy consumption, delivering measurable productivity and sustainability benefits simultaneously."

Kaninda said this approach is consistent with FLS's global CORE’26 strategy, particularly as operators seek to link productivity improvements with more efficient resource use.

"In Africa, sustainability and productivity are closely linked. Improving resource efficiency strengthens both mine economics and operational resilience, particularly in regions facing water scarcity or unreliable power supply."

McKay said the discussions at Electra Mining Africa also highlighted growing demand for integrated partnerships that extend beyond individual equipment purchases.

"Africa's mining industry is focused on extracting greater value from existing operations while building more resilient, efficient and sustainable processing plants," he says. "Delivering that outcome requires more than supplying equipment. It requires long-term partnerships supported by local expertise, engineering capability and service infrastructure that remain close to our customers throughout the life of their operations."

COLI Group has completed two projects to move large, out-of-gauge shipments to Ivory Coast

The first lift involved the movement of a set of 90-tonne generators from Bergen in Norway to Abidjan, together with specific lifting gear and additional 30 t alternators.

COLI arranged the ocean transport, including chartering a breakbulk vessel and handling the vessel’s agency.

The units were loaded directly on MAFI-trailers, with lashing, seafastening, marine surveys and port agency all handled in-house.

In the second project, the company coordinated the shipment of a used Liebherr crane to an Ivorian mine.

This took the mobile Liebherr crane from the Dutch village of Geertruidenberg in the Netherlands to the port of Abidjan for onward delivery to the mining site inland.

Other recent non-African assignments completed by Coli Group include the movement of a single Atlas Copco compressor from Antwerp, Belgium to the port of Antofagasta, Chile, and the shipment of a metro railcar from Brazil to France.

All of the projects were coordinated by the group’s Antwerp office.

Eduardo Pijpe, account manager at COLI Antwerp, said it had been a very busy start to 2026.

“These four were not our biggest projects ever, and that is rather the point— individually they can be seen as routine project cargo; together, they map what our team handles frequently, and show the versatile portfolio we can offer to our clients,” he said.

“Four shipments, four continents, eight countries, and different sets of rules, languages and expectations in every one of them. From small breakbulk consignments to full heavy lift charters, a client only hands you a job like that if they trust you with every part of it – that is what makes me proud.”

Established in 1974, COLI Schiffahrt & Transport is a German logistics solutions provider focusing on breakbulk, project and heavy lift cargoes.

In addition to its headquarters in Hamburg, the COLI Group has offices in Antwerp, Bremen, Rotterdam, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Guyana, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo, plus a global presence via an extensive network.

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Africa has an opportunity to convert geopolitical tensions and shifting global trade patterns into a catalyst for industrialisation and long-term economic resilience, according to a new Afreximbank report

Leveraging Geopolitics for Trade and Industrialisation in Global Africa examines trade and economic developments across the continent and globally, and outlines strategies for African nations to benefit from supply chain realignments and changing geopolitical dynamics.

“Africa stands at a critical juncture,” said Dr Yemi Kale, group chief economist and managing director of research and trade intelligence at Afreximbank.

“Geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation are reshaping global trade patterns, but they also present a historic opportunity for the continent. By strategically leveraging these shifts, Africa can build a more resilient, competitive and inclusive economic future.”

Despite a challenging global backdrop, the report highlights Africa’s strong recent economic performance.

While global economic growth slowed to 3.4% in 2025 and is projected to ease further to 3.1% in 2026, Africa’s real GDP growth accelerated from 3.4% in 2024 to 4.5% in 2025, outperforming the global average.

Africa’s merchandise trade also expanded by 6.1% to approximately US$1.5 trillion, while aggregate inflation fell significantly from 21.6% in 2024 to 13.1% in 2025.

According to Afreximbank, these gains reflect improved macroeconomic management, ongoing policy reforms and the role of development finance institutions in supporting economic stability.

However, the report warns that significant structural challenges remain.

Africa’s trade finance gap is estimated at approximately US$74bn in 2025, limiting the continent’s ability to fully capitalise on trade and industrial opportunities.

The situation is compounded by foreign exchange constraints and a continued decline in correspondent banking relationships.

The report also notes that evolving shipping routes and persistent disruptions in global logistics networks are increasing freight costs and extending delivery times, particularly for economies dependent on imported inputs and external markets.

To strengthen resilience, Afreximbank identifies accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), expansion of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and reforms to the global financial architecture as key priorities.

The report notes that stronger industrial ecosystems, increased intra-African trade and sustained financial support will be critical if the continent is to transform geopolitical disruption into sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

“It is imperative for the continent to act decisively to strengthen regional value chains, deepen industrial capacity, expand access to trade finance, and accelerate continental integration,” said Kale, adding that Africa “cannot afford to delay.”

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The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a €100mn (approx. US$117mn) loan to Gotion Power Morocco to support the construction of an integrated lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery gigafactory in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Free Trade Zone, marking a significant step in the development of Africa's electric vehicle manufacturing ecosystem

In addition to its direct financing, the Bank intends to mobilise up to a further €141mn (approx. US$165mn) from financial partners under the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), where it will serve as the Mandated Lead Arranger. The blended financing package is designed to accelerate delivery of one of the continent's largest battery manufacturing investments.

Building Africa's battery manufacturing capacity

The project is being developed by Gotion High-Tech Co. Ltd., a leading global battery producer headquartered in Hefei, China, and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Once operational, the facility will become the first fully integrated cathode-to-cell LFP battery manufacturing plant in both Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Phase one of the project will deliver an annual production capacity of 10 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery cells and battery packs for electric vehicles, with long-term plans to increase output to 100 GWh. The investment is expected to reinforce Morocco's position as an emerging global centre for electric mobility manufacturing and green technology supply chains.

The project also reflects growing investment in battery production as demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage continues to expand worldwide. By establishing large-scale local manufacturing capacity, Morocco aims to strengthen regional supply chains while supporting the transition towards cleaner transport and energy systems.

Kevin Kariuki, the Bank group's vice-president for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, said, "Battery storage is the missing link in Africa's clean energy transition. A facility of this scale, powered primarily by renewable energy, strengthens the foundations for the large-scale integration of solar and wind power, which our grids increasingly depend on. This is exactly the kind of project that will deliver reliable, low-carbon energy while creating green industrial jobs and building the resilient value chains Africa needs to sustain its energy transition."

Supporting industrial growth and local value creation

Beyond expanding battery production, the gigafactory is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Morocco. During its initial phase, the development is projected to create more than 600 direct jobs while achieving a 70% local industrial integration rate, supporting skills development and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.

The project is also intended to encourage the growth of local supplier networks and increase value addition within Africa's critical minerals sector, helping retain more economic value from resources that are essential to global energy transition technologies.

Achraf Tarsim, the African Development Bank group's country manager for Morocco, commented, "This gigafactory will be a major catalyst for strengthening Morocco’s industrial competitiveness and for accelerating its emergence as Africa’s manufacturing hub for sustainable mobility industries. It will help foster an African industrial ecosystem for batteries and electric vehicles while promoting the local beneficiation of critical minerals essential to the energy transition."

Advancing Africa's clean energy ambitions

The investment supports the African Development Bank Group's Four Cardinal Points strategic vision by promoting resilient infrastructure, accelerating industrialisation, increasing value addition to Africa's natural resources and strengthening regional integration.

As demand for battery storage continues to rise alongside renewable energy deployment and electric vehicle adoption, projects of this scale are expected to play an increasingly important role in positioning Africa within global clean energy and electric mobility value chains. By expanding domestic battery manufacturing and energy storage capabilities, the initiative is set to support the continent's transition towards a lower-carbon economy while enabling wider deployment of renewable energy technologies.

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