Australia firms ramp up mining investments in Africa amid global critical minerals rush

As global demand for critical minerals accelerates,Australian mining companies are ramping up their presence across Africa,positioning the country as a key player in the global energy transition.

With Africa holding an estimated 30% of the world’s known mineral resources,Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed companies are seizing the opportunity,specialized Australian website mining.com.au said in a detailed report.

Today,113 ASX-listed firms are actively engaged in nearly 270 projects across the continent,spanning exploration,development,and production.

Mining now accounts for 65% of new listings and 60% of follow-on capital raisings,underscoring the sector’s dominance in Australia’s financial markets.

“Africa is one of the last frontiers for large-scale mineral discoveries,and Australian companies are leading the charge,” the media quoted Travis Schwertfeger,Managing Director of Many Peaks (ASX:MPK) as saying.

Deals are usually made in events such as the Africa Down Under conference,held annually in Perth.

Projects like the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo- backed by Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining- are seen as models for future Australian-African collaboration.

Namibia,the world’s third-largest uranium producer,is drawing strong interest from Australian explorers. Companies such as Connected Minerals (ASX:CML) are advancing projects in the Erongo region,which has produced over 350 million pounds of the most common and stable form of uranium concentrate to date.

However,despite the influx of capital,only 10–15% of the value from mineral extraction is currently retained in African economies.