With Africa holding around 30% of the world’s critical minerals—key to Europe’s Green Deal and broader energy transition—European interest in the continent’s mining potential continues to grow. Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, taking place in Cape Town from October 1-3, will host a high-level Europe-Africa Roundtable aimed at strengthening cross-continental collaboration.
Themed European Partnerships in African Mining: A Mutually Beneficial Future, the roundtable will bring together stakeholders from government, industry, and finance to explore strategic investment opportunities and foster sustainable cooperation between Africa and Europe.
European firms are already playing an instrumental role in unlocking Africa’s mineral wealth. UK-based Anglo American is developing copper, nickel, coal, and diamond projects in countries including South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Nigeria. Swiss multinational Glencore continues to operate large-scale coal, copper, and cobalt ventures across southern Africa, while Rio Tinto is expanding its footprint across several African markets.
Smaller players are also making headway. British firm Pensana is establishing Angola’s first rare earths mine at Longonjo, projected to supply 5% of global magnet rare earth demand. Meanwhile, Endeavour Mining is pushing ahead with gold projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Mali.
Beyond commercial ventures, European institutions are helping to develop infrastructure critical to the mining sector. The European Commission is co-financing the Lobito Corridor, a strategic railway linking Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to global export routes. Frameworks such as the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package and partnerships on critical raw materials are further bolstering financial and technical support for African countries.
AMW 2025 will serve as a vital platform to build on these efforts, encouraging responsible mining practices and greater local value addition. The Europe-Africa Roundtable will spotlight opportunities across key mineral sectors including copper, gold and rare earths, while advancing goals of sustainability and equitable economic development.
