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Critical Minerals

Critical minerals are raw materials deemed essential to economic security and the functioning of modern technologies, yet vulnerable to supply disruption. The category typically includes rare-earth elements, lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese, platinum-group metals and other substances vital to batteries, renewable energy systems, electronics and defence applications. Governments and industry bodies maintain evolving lists of critical minerals based on supply-chain risk, import dependence and strategic importance. Demand has surged with the global transition to electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage and low-carbon infrastructure. Many critical minerals are geographically concentrated, with production dominated by a handful of countries, raising concerns over geopolitical leverage and supply security. Africa holds significant reserves of several critical minerals, including cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, manganese in South Africa and Gabon, and graphite in Mozambique and Tanzania. Investment in exploration, processing capacity and downstream beneficiation has intensified as nations seek to secure domestic supply chains. Environmental and social governance standards, artisanal mining practices and infrastructure deficits remain key challenges in scaling responsible production. The sector is closely watched by policymakers, investors and technology companies as competition for secure, ethical supply intensifies.

Critical Minerals News


Red Chris mine
Newmont, Imperial Metals bags $500m Canadian gov support for Red Chris expansion
3rd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed Imperial Metals has confirmed it will receive $500-million from the government of Canada to advance the Red Chris mine block cave transition, under the Canada-British Columbia... 


Falchani project area, in Peru
American Lithium strengthens board with US mine lifecycle expert
3rd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V-listed American Lithium Corporation has appointed Amandip Singh as an independent member of its board, bringing to the position more than 15 years of experience in exploration, project... 


Gahcho Kué mine
Canadian diamond miner Mountain Province to soon delist from TSX
3rd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

As TSX-listed Mountain Province Diamonds continues to pursue a potential restructuring transaction among its shareholders and creditors, which may include a "go-private" transaction, share... 


Raw copper ore
Brazil aims to lift global share of critical minerals output to 12.2% by 2050
3rd July 2026 By: Reuters

Brazil will unveil its National Mining Plan 2050 on Thursday, setting a target to increase its share of global critical minerals production to 12.2% by that year, from 8.3% currently, said the... 


AEW's Power Africa Today to Spotlight Energy’s Role in Strengthening Industrial Competitiveness
AEW's Power Africa Today to Spotlight Energy’s Role in Strengthening Industrial Competitiveness
3rd July 2026

The policy conversation across Africa is shifting from basic electrification toward interconnection and industrial enablement. More than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access... 


Cook Islands manganese nodules on seabed
US envoy says Cook Islands minerals are a top priority
3rd July 2026 By: Reuters

The new US ambassador to New Zealand and several Pacific island nations said on Friday that securing Cook Islands seabed minerals was a top priority, and that China's push for influence in the... 


South African govt, industry and academia unite behind fluorochemicals programme
3rd July 2026 By: Irma Venter

Flourochemicals South Africa (FSA), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to advance the Fluorochemicals Strategic... 


Image of titanium sponge
Titanium beneficiation complex, South Africa – update
3rd July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Foundation piling for the first-phase plant started in June 2026. 


Graphite from the Orom-Cross project
Orom-Cross graphite project, Uganda – update
3rd July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Blencowe Resources has submitted applications for several sizeable graphite tenders, with greater clarity expected in the third quarter of 2026. 


The above image depicts an aerial shot of the Zulti South project in progress
Zulti South investment to help extend mine’s life to 2050
3rd July 2026 By: Lynne Davies

Having been placed in suspension in January 2020, the Zulti South project has been approved by diversified mining company Rio Tinto, which will invest $473-million in the project, extending the... 


Image of graphite minerals
Battery anode material refinery, Canada
3rd July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The refinery involves the development of a downstream battery anode material refinery to convert high-purity natural flake graphite concentrate from Metals Australia’s Lac Carheil project into... 


Photo of Martin Creamer
Infrastructure can be the catalyst that brings Africa together
3rd July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

That Africa cannot afford fragmented voices any longer was a point mining and energy luminary Mike Teke made when he addressed the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines last month. We agree. Africa needs far... 


Iage of the Rosh Pinah mine
Rosh Pinah expansion, Namibia – update
3rd July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The project was more than 95% complete as at June 29, 2026. 


Location map of the Minim Martap
Minim Martap bauxite project, Cameroon – update
3rd July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The project’s locomotives have been delivered. 


A generic image of exposed surface copper
New surface copper discoveries found at Kaoko’s Namibia project
2nd July 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

ASX-listed mining exploration company Kaoko Metals has discovered an outcrop of copper mineralisation at its newly named Bootless prospect during its maiden fieldwork programme at the Chalkos... 


Fortuna Metals achieves greater than 96% titanium oxide rutile product at Malawi project
Fortuna Metals achieves greater than 96% titanium oxide rutile product at Malawi project
2nd July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

ASX-listed Fortuna Metals has announced the successful production of a high-quality rutile product of over 96% titanium oxide (TiO2) from the bulk sample metallurgical testwork completed by mineral... 


Tin ore
Rome Resources completes drilling campaign at DRC project
2nd July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aim-listed Rome Resources has received final assay results from its recent drilling campaign at the Kalayi deposit within the Bisie North Project, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These... 


Alcoa President and CEO Bill Oplinger.
Alcoa sees South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium being 'cash flow accretive immediately'
2nd July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

This asset adds scale to our smelting portfolio in a way that is expected to be cash flow accretive immediately, Alcoa Corporation President and CEO William (Bill) F Oplinger said of South Africa’s... 


European Metals president Inge Hofkens
Industry body European Metals appoints Hofkens president
2nd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Nonferrous metals representative body European Metals has appointed Inge Hofkens president of the group. She currently works as COO for multi-metal recycling at German copper recycler Aurubis.... 


Synthetic rutile
IperionX to publish Camden-Ttan integrated economic study by year-end
2nd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

US titanium developer IperionX has successfully completed the acquisition of the Camden critical minerals project, which includes existing infrastructure assets. The acquisition is highly... 


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pqt: 0.026s - ct: 0.065s - 105pq - 2rq
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