Africa possesses vast reserves of natural resources and is the world’s richest continent in terms of mineral wealth. It is estimated that Africa is home to one-third of the world’s minerals. The continent produces nearly 1 billion tonnes of minerals every year.

In this article we will explore the various minerals found across the various African countries.

Gold: Almost half of the world’s gold is in Africa. South Africa, Ghana and Mali are the world’s top producers of gold.

Diamonds: Botswana, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe are some of the African countries which have significant diamond reserves. At the moment, Botswana is the largest diamond producing country in the world.

Coal: South Africa accounts for about 250 million tons of coal production every year. Approximately 90% of coal consumed on the African continent comes from South Africa, most of which is sourced from underground coal mining. Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique are the major coal producers.

Platinum: Besides its use in the jewellery industry, this precious metal has a multitude of industrial applications. South Africa is the world’s leading producer of platinum. Zimbabwe and Ethiopia also have considerable platinum reserves.

Copper: An essential metal for electrical wiring and other applications, most of Africa’s copper comes from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. South Africa and Namibia are the other main producers.

Cobalt: It is a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and electronic devices, making it a highly valuable resource. 73% of the world’s mineral comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Bauxite: Mainly used in the manufacture of Aluminium, Bauxite is found in Guinea, Mozambique and Ghana. Guinea is the world leader in Bauxite production.

Uranium: Namibia, Niger and South Africa are the main African producers of uranium which is critical for nuclear power generation.

Iron Ore: This is a vital mineral for steel production. Iron ore mines in South Africa and Mauritania have significant deposits of the mineral.

Phosphates: Morocco is a major producer of phosphates which are used in fertilisers and other agricultural applications.

Oil: 12% of the world’s oil reserves are in Africa with Nigeria, Angola and Libya having the largest reserves.

Limestone: Kenya is the main country associated with limestone mining in Africa.

Responsible and sustainable management of abundant raw materials can ensure long-terms benefits for African nations and their populations.