CMAG leads critical minerals dialogue

The Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG) is set to co-host a side event at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town

As an advocacy group dedicated to strengthening Africa’s role in global critical minerals markets, CMAG aims to position the continent at the center of international policy discussions.

The event, co-hosted with the Africa Finance Corporation and chaired by CMAG’s chief strategy officer, Olimpia Pilch, will convene industry experts to explore strategies for driving investment in Africa’s critical minerals sector.

Discussions will focus on the strategic significance of critical minerals for Africa, the impact of global demand on market dynamics, and the role of a diversified energy mix in the continent’s clean energy transition. Panelists will also examine ways governments can mitigate investment risks, lessons from successful projects worldwide, and actionable strategies for Africa to leverage its natural resources and strengthen its position in global supply chains.

Olimpia Pilch, CMAG’s chief strategy officer, stated, “There are plenty of ambitions on the African continent when it comes to extracting critical minerals, however, there are also plenty of misconceptions and a distinct lack of granular roadmaps on how to get there. Financing new critical minerals projects is challenging due to price volatility, geopolitical and political risk, and limited ex-China customers, among technical and technological obstacles. Specialist finance is constrained, and different types of financiers are needed at various stages of project development, further complicating project delivery.”

“I am excited to host this panel and discuss the realities of attracting African and foreign finance into critical minerals projects on the continent. We will dive into the current barriers and what needs to change if Africa is to utilise its abundant mineral wealth to generate growth and to help nations industrialise.”

CMAG’s CEO, Veronica Bolton Smith, added, “We are very much looking forward to co-hosting this event at Mining Indaba. One of the key themes of this year’s event is ‘maximising on Africa’s critical minerals endowment.’ This clearly aligns with CMAG’s goal of helping to create resilient, diversified supply chains that benefit the communities in which they are extracted – and to facilitate market entry for international players, to the benefit of all parties.”

“Africa needs investment if it is to unlock the full potential of its critical minerals. Conversations like this, and the actionable insights which come from them, play a crucial role in bringing that investment about.”