April Newsletter: Africa’s mining sector at a strategic crossroads

Your Monthly Mining Roundup

The African mining sector is shifting, as policy, demand, and operational changes reshape the landscape. From Tharisa Minerals’ transition underground to coal’s ongoing role in South Africa, the industry is balancing short-term realities with long-term transformation.

At the same time, the focus is shifting from extraction to value creation - how resources are developed, financed, and integrated into wider economies. With rising demand for rare earths, Africa faces a key choice: build value chains or continue exporting raw materials.

In this edition, we explore what this means for the industry.

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A new era of strategic partnerships and long-life growth begins for Tharisa

Tharisa Minerals has entered its underground mining phase at the Tharisa mine. This marks a pivotal operational and strategic shift underpinned by a growing network of partnerships spanning mining, technology and project finance.

South Africa’s coal sector holds firm despite price pressure and long-term transition

Coal remained South Africa’s most significant mining commodity by production volume in 2025. Despite intensifying global pressure to transition away from fossil fuels, the sector continues to underpin both the country’s energy security and industrial base.

How value chains are shaping the future of African mining

The conversation around mining in Africa has always been relatively straightforward: what resources exist, where they are located, and how they can be extracted. But that conversation has shifted.

Learning from oil & gas: a vision for mining innovation

The mining industry does not need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to innovation and technology adoption; it can learn from adjacent sectors, particularly oil and gas.

Africa’s rare earths moment hinges on value chains, not just resources

Africa’s vast rare earth reserves are drawing renewed global attention, but without integrated value chains and coordinated investment, the continent risks repeating its historical pattern of exporting raw materials with limited economic return.

Looking ahead to 2027 already? So are we.

Mining Indaba returns to Cape Town, 8–11 February 2027. Register your interest to access early announcements and exclusive insights.

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Kind regards,

Laura Nicholson

Industry Director - Investing in African Mining Indaba

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