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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


World Platinum Investment Council Director of Research Edward Sterck.
Big boost for platinum, palladium as China exchange internationalises
25th September 2026 By: Martin Creamer

From Monday, September 28, China will give international investors access to trading in palladium and platinum on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange (GFEX), where domestic exchange activity has been... 


LibertyStream lithium refining unit in Texas
LibertyStream appoints interim CFO
25th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

North American lithium producer LibertyStream has appointed Keirah Burrell interim CFO to replace retiring Morgan Tiernan. Burrell held the accounting operations VP position at LibertyStream.  


Rainbow Rare Earths CEO George Bennett
Rainbow Rare Earths secures Neo Performance Materials as technical, offtake partner
25th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

London-listed Rainbow Rare Earths has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Toronto-listed Neo Performance Materials for technical support and design input for Rainbow's final solvent... 


Magazine Cover Image
Outlook for platinum buoyed by new industrial applications as investment demand weakens
25th September 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

While total demand for platinum is forecast to decrease this year, there are industries that stakeholders can leverage and strengthen, while market fundamentals still support the metal as a... 


Magazine Cover Image
Outlook for platinum buoyed by new industrial applications as investment demand weakens
25th September 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

While total demand for platinum is forecast to decrease this year, there are industries that stakeholders can leverage and strengthen, while market fundamentals still support the metal as a... 


A mine vehicle at the lip of a mining operation at dawn
Event to highlight influential topics
25th September 2026 By: Halima Frost

The fact that mining was chosen as one of the three critical industries in the third phase of the Government-Business Partnership is a “tremendous vote of confidence” in the sector’s ability to... 


Government targets growth across value chain
25th September 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

South Africa’s stainless steel industry needs coordinated interventions across the value chain to address weak domestic demand, rising energy and logistics costs, global overcapacity and increasing... 


a small mining operation in the bush
South Africa’s resilience to be highlighted at Indaba
25th September 2026

Amid global volatility, events such as the upcoming Joburg Indaba conference – taking place on October 7 and 8, at The Inanda Club, in Sandton – shine light on South Africa’s route to resilience,... 


Top Ivana Jemelkova and Zhao Dong, below Boudewijn Siemons and Jaehoon Chang.
Hydrogen investment hits $130bn-plus mark on energy security, resilience rise
25th September 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Committed investment in clean hydrogen has hit the $130-billion-plus mark, driven by global energy security and resilience issues, with 90% of the 570 clean hydrogen projects already under... 


Image of lump of graphite
Porto Marghera graphite processing hub, Italy
25th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

International Graphite and Alkeemia plan to build a graphite processing facility to supply processed graphite products to Europe’s industrial, energy storage, advanced manufacturing and defence... 


Drill core from the Diamba Sud project
Diamba Sud gold project, Senegal
25th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Fortuna Mining Corp's feasibility study has outlined a conventional openpit gold operation at the Diamba Sud project comprising the Area A and Area D deposits. 


Energy and Densification Systems (EDS)
Local solutions for global mineral processing operations
25th September 2026

Energy and Densification Systems (EDS) has developed a portfolio of equipment used in the crushing, milling, liberation and recovery of mineral ores, through the commercial exploitation of various... 


Image of lithium ore
Mt Marion lithium project, Australia
25th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Mineral Resources plan to build a flotation plant and develop underground mining at Mt Marion. 


A session at the Joburg Indaba led by Bernard Swanepoel
Indaba plans to address hard topics ‘face on’
25th September 2026 By: Halima Frost

The programme for the Joburg Indaba mining conference revolves around one connecting idea: South African mining has to convert a period of real volatility into a “durable advantage”, says Joburg... 


Location map of the Falchani project
Falchani lithium project, Peru – update
25th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

American Lithium Corporation has fully commissioned and started operating its Falchani lithium pilot plant. 


USTDA deputy director Thomas Hardy and Anzana Electric Group CEO Brian Kelly
USTDA signs agreement to support reliable power for Lobito Corridor
23rd September 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has signed an agreement with electric utility company Anzana Electric Group to fund a feasibility study to expand hydropower generation and upgrade... 


Glencore selected as cornerstone partner in new US-backed strategic mineral reserve fund
Glencore selected as cornerstone partner in new US-backed strategic mineral reserve fund
23rd September 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

London-listed miner Glencore has been selected by the US Government to be a founding partner in the launch of VaultCo – a strategic critical minerals reserve designed to strengthen US critical... 


Rare earths periodic table
Heavy rare earths central to Western supply squeeze as market grows
23rd September 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Global consultancy The Business Research Company estimates the global rare earths market will grow from $6.86-billion in 2026 to $10.44-billion by 2030, which equates to a compound annual growth... 


tungsten
Tungsten West inks eight-year offtake agreement with US manufacturer Elmet
23rd September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Aim-listed Tungsten West has secured a binding eight-year offtake agreement with a US vertically integrated producer of tungsten products and advanced materials called Elmet Technologies. Tungsten... 


EMP Metals' Project Aurora demo plant
Canadian lithium miner EMP commissions demo plant
23rd September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Vancouver-based EMP Metals Corporation has successfully commissioned its Project Aurora demonstration plant, in Saskatchewan, with the facility now operating as a fully integrated, continuous-flow... 


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pqt: 0.273s - ct: 0.326s - 275pq - 2rq
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