Africa’s hidden geodata loses billions of mining investment for the continent

In a continent where 40 per cent of the world’s natural resources lie beneath the surface, only 30 per cent have been thoroughly explored. But the challenge isn’t just geology. It is in its governance. More specifically, it’s the invisible curtain shrouding Africa’s geological survey data that may be deterring billions in potential investment.

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At the recent London Indaba, Mark Cutifani, Chairperson of Vale Base Metals and a mining heavyweight formerly at Anglo American, struck a chord during his opening keynote, as he shared, “Malawi is the first, and I believe Nigeria is the second.” He wasn’t talking about mineral production, infrastructure milestones, or new critical mineral discoveries. He was referring to a fundamental but overlooked advantage: open-source geological data.

Among all the minerals that Africa has, bauxite holds great potential among others. The global metallurgical bauxite for aluminium market is expected to grow significantly between 2023-2030. According to AL Circle estimates, the market was worth USD 15.5 billion in 2023. However, by 2030, a substantial increase is anticipated, with the market size projected to reach USD 19.6 billion at a CAGR of 2.41 per cent.

In 2025, global bauxite production is set to reach around 450 million tonnes. This expansion is driven primarily by the rising demand for aluminium products. Although the prediction forecasts a growth in bauxite production volume in 2025, the growth rate is projected to decline from 2024. Top bauxite producers, including Guinea and Australia, continue to play a crucial role in growing the industry; however, China, Brazil, and India comprise the top three and form the top five bauxite producers worldwide.

The ‘data lockbox’ that blocks exploration

In much of Africa, the geological maps, soil analyses, drill records, and mineral deposit data that investors rely on to make multi-million-dollar decisions are still locked away in ministries, archives, or the private vaults of long-gone prospectors. Governments (often cited due to institutional inertia, underfunded geological agencies, or legacy secrecy) have kept these datasets under wraps or in paper records that haven’t been digitised.