Africa urged to process bauxite and other critical minerals locally to drive industrial growth

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African nations have been urged to accelerate domestic processing of bauxite and "other" critical minerals instead of continuing to export raw materials, as leaders push to transform the continent into a global hub for value-added mineral production.

Speaking at the African Development Bank (AfDB) Ministerial Forum in Abidjan, Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals and Chair of the Africa Mineral Strategy Group, Dele Alake, said Africa must break its long-standing dependence on exporting raw minerals while importing higher-value finished products at significantly higher costs.

Value addition key to industrialisation

Alake said Africa possesses abundant reserves of bauxite and "other" critical minerals, including cobalt, lithium, manganese, platinum and rare earth elements, that are increasingly vital for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing.

However, he noted that the continent continues to capture only a fraction of their economic value because refining, processing and manufacturing largely take place outside Africa.

To address this, African governments were encouraged to strengthen local mineral processing industries, create jobs and build regional value chains capable of supporting long-term industrial development.

To know the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina, explore the report "Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook"

Abidjan Declaration backs regional cooperation

The forum concluded with the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration, which commits African countries to expanding cooperation on mineral development through improved financing mechanisms, practical investment and cross-border mineral processing hubs.

The declaration also supports local beneficiation, increased intra-African trade and stronger industrial growth by encouraging more minerals to be processed within the continent before export.

Alake reaffirmed the Africa Mineral Strategy Group's commitment to working with governments and development partners to ensure Africa's mineral resources generate employment, strengthen local economies and deliver long-term prosperity.

African-led standards proposed

Among the key proposals discussed at the forum was the adoption of the Pan African Resource Reporting Code (PARC), which would allow African countries to establish their own mineral reporting standards.

According to Alake, developing African-led resource reporting frameworks would improve transparency, strengthen investor confidence and enable countries to determine the value of their mineral resources on their own terms.

Why bauxite is becoming increasingly strategic

The growing focus on bauxite reflects its rising importance within the global aluminium supply chain. In 2020, the European Commission added bauxite to its list of critical raw materials, recognising its strategic role in supporting aluminium production and Europe's transition towards a greener and more digital economy.

Find out why Bauxite's recognition as a Critical Raw Material has become a milestone for the global aluminium industry.

Africa already plays a significant role in global bauxite supply. The continent accounts for around 16 per cent of global bauxite production, with Guinea serving as Africa's largest bauxite hub and one of the world's leading exporters. Guinea holds roughly 30 per cent of global bauxite reserves and contributes around 94 per cent of Africa's bauxite production, while Ghana remains another major producer. Together, these resource-rich countries are increasingly viewed as key locations for expanding alumina refining and aluminium production rather than continuing to export raw bauxite.

Explore buying & selling leads of bauxite and trade opportunities on AL Biz