https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260402/is-ending-resource-extractivism-africas-next-economic-power-play-1084755679.html
Is Ending Resource Extractivism Africa's Next Economic Power Play?
Is Ending Resource Extractivism Africa's Next Economic Power Play?
Sputnik Africa
As the global race for critical minerals intensifies, wealthy nations are scrambling to secure lithium, cobalt, manganese, and rare earths for their clean... 02.04.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-04-02T17:58+0200
2026-04-02T17:58+0200
2026-04-02T17:58+0200
african currents
podcasts
sputnik africa
africa
central africa
south africa
north africa
east africa
west africa
southern africa
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07ea/04/02/1084804358_0:88:400:313_1920x0_80_0_0_9fdc238b953dc237c8c6edf692bf4f69.jpg
Is Ending Resource Extractivism Africa's Next Economic Power Play?
Sputnik Africa
As the global race for critical minerals intensifies, wealthy nations are scrambling to secure lithium, cobalt, manganese, and rare earths for their clean energy transitions. South Africa, Tanzania, and other resource-rich African countries now face a defining moment: move beyond raw exports and turn natural wealth into long-term economic power.
High-value minerals are reshaping geopolitical and economic priorities as advanced economies move to secure stable supply chains. Resource-rich African countries are reassessing their position in the global value chain. Policymakers across the continent are now exploring strategies to shift from exporting raw materials toward expanding domestic processing capacity, strengthening industrial policy, and capturing more value from natural resources. This transition is expected to carry significant implications for socioeconomic development for the continent.African Currents spoke with Chloe Maluleke, a specialist in Russian and Middle Eastern affairs at BRICS+ Consulting Group in Cape Town, South Africa, regarding the potential for mineral-rich African nations to harness their critical mineral resources to foster industrialization and economic development, rather than perpetuating an extractivist economic model.Catch the full discussion on the African Currents podcast, presented by Sputnik Africa.Listen to this episode on our website or Telegram.► You can also stream the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Subscribe to and explore all the episodes of African Currents.
africa
central africa
south africa
north africa
east africa
west africa
southern africa
tanzania
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2026
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
News
en_EN
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
podcasts, sputnik africa, africa, central africa, south africa, north africa, east africa, west africa, southern africa, tanzania, minerals, resources, lithium, cobalt, аудио
podcasts, sputnik africa, africa, central africa, south africa, north africa, east africa, west africa, southern africa, tanzania, minerals, resources, lithium, cobalt, аудио
Is Ending Resource Extractivism Africa's Next Economic Power Play?
As the global race for critical minerals intensifies, wealthy nations are scrambling to secure lithium, cobalt, manganese, and rare earths for their clean energy transitions. South Africa, Tanzania, and other resource-rich African countries now face a defining moment: move beyond raw exports and turn natural wealth into long-term economic power.
High-value minerals are reshaping geopolitical and economic priorities as advanced economies move to secure stable supply chains. Resource-rich African countries are reassessing their position in the global value chain. Policymakers across the continent are now exploring strategies to shift from exporting raw materials toward expanding domestic processing capacity, strengthening industrial policy, and capturing more value from natural resources. This transition is expected to carry significant implications for socioeconomic development for the continent.
African Currents spoke with Chloe Maluleke, a specialist in Russian and Middle Eastern affairs at BRICS+ Consulting Group in Cape Town, South Africa, regarding the potential for mineral-rich African nations to harness their critical mineral resources to foster industrialization and economic development, rather than perpetuating an extractivist economic model.
"I think one non-negotiable that these [industrialization policy] frameworks need to have is beneficiation conditionalities when it comes to setting up the frameworks in terms of companies coming in. I think we miss that step when it comes to creating these contracts with these investors. And that is a crucial step in ensuring that there's revenue on the continent and it develops our work capabilities and our sectors [...]. We can't operate as silos in terms of our industrialization and development because the continent needs to lean on each other and interlink to ensure that the development of one nation spills into the development of another nation; spills to the development in the region," Maluleke said.
Catch the full discussion on the African Currents podcast, presented by Sputnik Africa.
Listen to this episode on our website or
Telegram.►
Subscribe to and explore all the episodes of African Currents.
