African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, scheduled to take place from October 14–16 in Cape Town, will feature the African National Mining Companies Forum.
This platform will bring together state-owned mining enterprises, government leaders, and global investors to examine the expanding role of national mining companies in shaping the continent’s next phase of mineral development.
As competition for critical minerals intensifies, African governments are increasingly positioning national mining companies at the center of their investment strategies. Rather than serving solely as state shareholders, these entities are leading project development, securing investment, and supporting domestic mineral processing.
This strategic shift arrives as Africa seeks to unlock an estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources, which includes around 30 percent of the world’s critical mineral reserves. While the continent remains one of the largest global suppliers of raw minerals, governments are leveraging national mining companies to attract capital, expand domestic processing, strengthen supply chains, and drive mining-led industrialization.
Across West Africa, major institutional updates reflect this trend. Liberia is advancing plans to establish a National Mining Company to unlock its iron ore and critical minerals potential, given that an estimated 80 percent of the country’s geology remains underexplored. Guinea has established the Nimba Mining Company as part of its broader Simandou 2040 strategy to maximize value from its iron ore and bauxite resources. Meanwhile, Mali has strengthened the role of the Société de Patrimoine Minier du Mali to support development across its gold and lithium industries.
In East Africa, Uganda recently established the Uganda National Mining Company, which will hold equity stakes of up to 15 percent in industrial mining projects as the country develops its rare earth, graphite, and gold sectors. At the same time, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to expand the role of state-backed entities, including the Entreprise Générale du Cobalt and Gécamines, to capture greater value from its vast critical minerals endowment.
In Southern Africa, Zambia is leveraging ZCCM Investments Holdings to attract strategic investment as it targets an annual copper production of three million tons by 2031. Zimbabwe is similarly utilizing Kuvimba Mining House to accelerate development across its gold, lithium, and nickel assets while advancing national beneficiation objectives.
The African National Mining Companies Forum at AMW 2026 will provide a direct platform for investors to engage with the institutions shaping mining policy and project development across the continent. Discussions will focus on how national mining companies can structure investment partnerships, mobilize capital, strengthen regional cooperation, and accelerate value addition across Africa’s mining sector.
ABJ/APA