The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region has many of the sought after critical energy transition minerals. Now a five-year regional project is working to retain the mineral wealth locally while promoting livelihoods and driving industrialization.
The SADC region holds vast reserves of cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, and platinum group metals which have for many years been exported raw or semi processed, denying full developmental benefits to countries. A landmark initiative, the project, Fostering Environmentally and Socially Responsible, Decarbonized, Inclusive and Transformative Value Chains for Energy Transition Minerals in the SADC Region launched today in Lusaka is aimed at changing that.
Opportunities for SADC region
The project, supported financially by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) and led by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with regional stakeholders, will be implemented in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It will support the building of value chains that are environmentally responsible, inclusive and transformative. The project runs from March 2026 to February 2031.
The stakes are high. With the rising global demand for critical energy transition minerals, the project seeks to promote the beneficiation of these resources at source to drive industrialisation and transformation, create sustainable jobs, enhance skills and support local enterprise development.
“The SADC region is uniquely positioned to contribute to the global energy transition,” Dr. Hapenga M. Kabeta, Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, said adding that, “Our region is significantly endowed with strategic minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, and rare earth elements. We have an opportunity not only to supply raw materials to the world but also to accelerate industrialisation, create jobs, foster innovation, and improve the livelihoods of our citizens.”
Dr. Kabeta noted that while demand for critical minerals presented unprecedented opportunities, the region must address challenges related to beneficiation, environmental and social governance, and the inclusion and participation of local communities, women, youth and persons with disabilities.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Douty Chibamba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Zambia cautioned that the mining and mineral processing of critical minerals should not undermine ecosystems and other natural resources. Instead, it should create opportunities for employment, local enterprise development, skills transfer, and transparent benefit sharing.
“As we launch this project, I emphasize three priorities; responsible mineral development that protects the environment and safeguards communities; value addition and green industrialisation that creates sustainable jobs, and inclusion of women, youth, local communities, persons with disabilities and civil society organisations in energy transition mineral value chains.”
Realising these priorities require more than mining and collaboration.
“No single country in the region possesses all the inputs required to develop complete value chains for energy transition minerals. Strong regional cooperation and partnerships are therefore essential to realising the full potential of the sector,” said Ms Eunice Kamwendo, ECA Director for Southern Africa.
International Support for Equitable Development
Representing the Government of Germany, Ms Verena Stöckigt, Counsellor and Head of Environmental Affairs and Climate Action at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in South Africa, reaffirmed Germany’s support for sustainable and responsible mineral development through the International Climate Initiative.
“The mission of the International Climate Initiative is to promote the energy transition through the development of mineral value chains while ensuring that this is done in an environmentally and socially responsible manner,” said Ms Stöckigt.
She highlighted that the growing global demand for critical minerals driven by the transition to renewable energy technologies emphasised the need to ensure that mineral development delivers sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits.
The five-year project is expected to contribute to the development of national and regional policy frameworks with strong ESG directions, strengthen environmental monitoring and regulatory oversight. Besides, the project will support climate and biodiversity initiatives and empower civil society and local communities to participate meaningfully in mineral governance.
Furthermore, the project aligns with key continental and regional frameworks, including the Africa Mining Vision, the Africa Green Minerals Strategy, and the SADC Regional Mining Vision, while contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Participants at the launch expressed confidence that the project will help position the SADC region as a leading and trusted supplier of sustainable energy transition minerals while advancing industrialisation, climate resilience and inclusive economic growth.
*ECA
