23

August2020

Policy Brief
Institute for Natural Resources in Africa

Africa Beyond Oil And Gas
Low-Carbon Technologies And The Fourth Industrial
Revolution Opportunities For Africa
By Thelma Arko

Keywords: Low-carbon, green economy, minerals, technology, energy, renewable
Summary:

The drive towards a decarbonized economy is much more urgent in this decade as we have ten years remaining
to half emissions and keep global warming to 1.5oC. The increasing pressure to move away from fossils, presents serious risks particularly to emerging fossil fuel producing African countries, hoping to transform theireconomies with prospects from the sector. However, the increasing demand for metals and minerals needed to
produce low-carbon technologies, is opening enormous market opportunities for the mining sector. This holds
great promise for Africa, possessing rich deposit of the minerals needed not only for the low-carbon future but
also for automated future of the rapidly emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The full spectrum of mineral wealth that African nations hold is sparsely known. There is also a lack of understanding of how countries
with significant mineral deposits can take advantage of the low carbon technology and 4IR to support sustainable development. Through an extensive review of literature and synthesis of available data, this paper presents
a comprehensive report of the distribution of Africa’s mineral wealth and interrogates the development options
this present to African countries in a low carbon future. This study reveals that Africa holds 42 of the 66 elements required for the emerging low carbon future and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The paper also presents
some of the appropriate governance mechanisms, African governments can adopt to be rightly positioned to takeadvantage of the enormous opportunities presented by the low-carbon future to create wealth and explore newopportunities to bolster economic growth.

Resources
Precious metals & diamonds
Other metals
Coal, Iron, ore & Bauxite
Other materials

Fig 1: Geological Map of Africa’s mineral resources
Source: SEMS exploration, The African Geological Consultancy Group1
The 4IR describes a world where individuals move between digital domains and offline reality with the use of connected technology to enable
and manage their lives (Xu et al., 2018)https://inra.unu.edu

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UNU-INRA Policy brief | August 2020

Transitioning from fossil fuel dependence, towards a low-carbon, automated future is opening up new opportunities for a different set of strategic resources (International Energy Agency, 2019). Low-carbon technologies andthe Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) will require a substantial increase in the volume of mined minerals andmetals than is currently produced (World Bank, 2017a). About six times (6x) increase in iron/steel production
is needed to service wind turbines (Addison, 2018), About seventy times (70x) of the current production of copper (Kleijn & Van Der Voet, 2010) is needed to transmit electricity generated from clean energy. This opens up
enormous market opportunities-for Africa, holding rich deposits of these minerals (International Energy Agency,2019).

The rapid transition to low-carbon technologies will result in a rapid decline in demand for fossil fuel resources(Bradley, Lahn, & Pye, 2018) and increase the demand for large quantities of metals and minerals (Vidal, Goffé,& Arndt, 2013;Addison, 2018), including: aluminum, copper, iron ore, lead, lithium, nickel, manganese, silver,
steel, titanium and zinc copper, cobalt and chrome , the platinum group metals, Rare Earth Elements (REE)(Woude, 2019;World Bank, 2017). Wind technologies require Copper, Aluminum, Chromium, Iron, Lead, Manganese, Nickel, Zinc, Titanium, Silver, Cobalt, Platinum, Molybdenum and neodymium, Rare earth metals (Rene
Kleijn & Van Der Voet, 2010; World Bank, 2017b;The World Bank, 2019). Solar PV Aluminum, Silicon, Silver,
Tin, Lead, Copper, Indium, Iron, Nickel, Zinc, Gallium, Cadmium, Chromium, Germanium, Tellurium, Rubidium, Caesium (Achzet, Reller, Rennie, Ashfield, & Simmons, 2011; World Bank, 2017b; The World Bank, 2019).
The strong growth in fuel cells to power zero-carbon vehicles, will see a considerable demand growth for lithium,
lead, copper, nickel, platinum neodymium, vanadium, cobalt and manganese (International Energy Agency,
2019; García-Olivares, Ballabrera-Poy, García-Ladona, & Turiel, 2012;Rene Kleijn & Van Der Voet, 2010; World
Bank, 2017b).

Solar Panels

Wind Technology

Cd, Cu, Si, Te, Cu, In, As, Al, Al, Fe, Mo, Cd, Pb, Co,
Ge, Ni, Se, Sn, Fe, Zn, Pb,
Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Ti, Ag,
Ag, Ti, K, Ni, Zn, Ga, Cr
Pt, Nd and other REE

Battery Storage/Fuel Cells

4IR materials

H, Li, C, Li, REE, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn,
Si, Cu, Pb, Ni, Ti, Ca, Pt, Nd, V

Co, Al, Ga, Ti, In, Ni, Li, W
and REE

Table 1: Minerals needed for solar technology, wind technology, electric vehicles and energy storage.
Source: Author compiled from various sources

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) a term coined by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of theWorld Economic Forum, describes a world where individuals move between digital domains and offline reality
with the use of connected technology to enable and manage their lives (Schwab, 2015). Digitization and automation are the foundation of the 4IR, rapidly revolutionizing every aspect of modern society (Komatsu Mining
Corp., 2019). The 4IR is leading to breakthroughs, in: (1)artificial intelligence (AI) robotics (such as machinelearning); (2) nanotechnology; (3) biotechnology; (4) quantum computing; (5) blockchain; (6) the Internet ofThings (IoT); (7) 3D-printing, etc (Humphreys, 2019;Effoduh, 2016; Xu et al., 2018;Dilberoglu, Gharehpapagh,
Yaman, & Dolen, 2017). Material requiremets of the 4IR include: Cobalt, Aluminium, Gallium, Cobalt, Titanium,
Indium, Nickel and lithium, Tungsten, REE (Addison, 2018; Dilberoglu et al., 2017). (Table 1).

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements including the 15 Lanthanide series elements,
plus yttrium and Scandium. is found in most REE deposits and so sometimes classified as an REE. They range from atomic
numbers 51-71 (King, 2019;BGS, 2019b).

2

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2

The rapid changes being brought about by low carbon technologies and the 4th industrial revolution (Xu et al.,2018) offers great opportunities for Africa being host 42 of the 66 elements needed for 4IR. (Fig 1). Forty-two(42) of the 54 African countries have deposits of these strategic minerals. Africa holds two-thirds of global
cobalt production, 80% of platinum, half of manganese production (International Energy Agency, 2019) and
32% of the world’s bauxite resources (U.S. Geological Survey, 2019). The Democratic Republic of the Congo is
the world’s leading source of cobalt (U.S. Geological Survey, 2019), accounting for two-thirds of global cobalt
production (65%) (Statista, 2019) . Rwanda and DR Congo both produce tantalum (about 30% and 40% of the
global supply respectively) critical for electronics. Namibia and Niger are producers of uranium (World Nuclear
Association, 2019) critical for nuclear power plants (International Energy Agency, 2019). Morocco and Namibia,
the world’s second and third largest producer of arsenic (U.S. Geological Survey, 2019). Congo (Kinshasa) and
Rwanda accounted for 66% of estimated global tantalum production in 2018 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2019).
Namibia and Zimbabwe hold 100% of the world’s Cesium reserves and 89% of the world’s Rubidium reserves(U.S. Geological Survey, 2019)-needed for the manufacture of photoelectric cells. Africa is also home to rareearth elements with rich deposits in South Africa (Steenkampskraal, 2019)

Minerals for low carbon technologies
and the 4th industrial revolution
Morocco and Namibia, the world’s second and thirdlargest producer of arsenic (U.S. Geological Survey, 2019)

Africa is host to 42 of the 66 elements

42 of the 54 African countries havedeposits of these strategic minerals

67%

DRC holds 67% of the world’s
cobalt reserves (Statista, 2019)

Namibia and Zimbabwe have 100% of the world’s cesium
reserves and 89% of the world’s rubidium reserves

70%

South Africa produces 70% of theworld’s platinum needed to produce
many computers, mobile phones, tocatalytic converters (OECD, 2019)

Africa holds two-thirds of global cobalt production, 80% of
platinum, half of manganese production (International Energy
Agency, 2019) and 32% of the world’s bauxite resources(U.S. Geological Survey, 2019)https://inra.unu.edu

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UNU-INRA Policy brief | August 2020

Elements Of A Smartphone
Elements colour key:
• Alkali Metal• Alkaline Earth Metal• Transition Metal• Group 14• Group 15• Group 16• Halogen

BatterylithiumcobaltLi

Co

carbonaluminium

C

Al

3

6.941

6

12.01127

58.93313

26.982oxygen8O15.999The majority of phones use lithium ion batteries, which
are composed of lithium cobalt oxide as a positiveelectrode and graphite (carbon) as the negativeelectrode. Some batteries use other metals, such as
manganese, in place of cobalt. The battery’s casing is
made of aluminum.

• Group 13• Lanthanide

Casingcarbonmagnesium

brominenickel

C

Mg Br

Ni

6

12.011

1224.3053579.90428

58.693Magnesium compounds are alloyed to makesome phone cases, whilst many are made ofplastics. Plastics will also include flame retardant
compounds, some of which contain bromine,whilst nickel can be included to reduce electromagnetic interference.

Electronics
copper29

silver47

Cu Ag
63.546107.87

gold

tantalum

79

73

Au Ta
196.97180.95nickeldysprosium

Ni

Dy

28

58.693praseodymium

terbiumPrTbneodymiumgadolinium

59

Screenindium49

In114.82tin

oxygenSnO50

118.718

15.999aluminium

silicon

Al

Si

13

14

26.98228.086

oxygenpotassiumOK

8

15.9991939.098yttrium

lanthanum

terbiumY

La

Tbpraseodymium

europium

dysprosium

39

88.90659Pr
140.91gadolinium

57

138.9163

65

158.9366

Eu Dy
151.96

162.50140.9160

film in the screen that conducts electricity. This allows
the screen to function as a touch screen.
Th glass used on the majority of smartphones is analuminosilicate glass, composed of a mix of alumina(Al2O3) and silica (SiO2). This glass also contains
potassium ions, which help to strengthen it.
A variety of Rare Earth Element compounds are usedin small quantities to produce the colours in the smartphone’s screen. Some compounds are also used toreduce UV light penetration into the phone.

64

Gd

66

162.5065

158.9364

Nd Gd
144.24157.25siliconoxygen

14

Si

8

O

28.08615.999antimonyarsenic

51

33

Sb As
121.7674.922

phosphorus

galliumPGa

15

30.97431

69.723tin

50

Sn
118.71
lead

157.25

82

Pb
207.2

Copper is used for wiring in thephone, whilst copper, gold and silver
are the major metals from whichmicro-electrical components are
fashioned. Tantalum is the major
component of micro-capacitors.
Nickel is used in the microphone aswell as for other electrical connections, Alloys including the elements
praseodymium, gadolinium andneodymium are used in the magnets
in the speaker and microphone.
Neodymium, terbium and dysprosium are used in the vibration unit.
Pure silicon is used to manufacture
the chip in the phone. It is oxidized
to produce non-conducting regions,the other elements are added inorder to allow the chip to conduct
electricity.
Tin & led are used to solder electronics in the phone. Newer lead-freesolders use a mix of tin, copper andsilver.

Fig 2: Different minerals and metals found in mobile phones
Source: Compound Interest 2014

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/what-materials-are-used-to-make-cell-phones
https://www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Chemical-Elements-of-a-Smartphone-v2.png
5
Digitization is the process of converting non-digital information into digital data.
34

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4Periodic table highlighting elements
relevant for the 4IRhydrogenhelium

H

He

1

2

1.00794.0026lithium

beryllium

LiBe
9.012210.81112.01114.007

sodiummagnesium

aluminium

siliconphosphorus

Al

Si

P

3

6.941

11

boron

carbonnitrogenoxygenfluorine

neon

B

C

N

O

15.999F

18.998Ne

sulfurchlorine

argon

S

Cl

Ar

brominekrypton

Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br

Kr

4

5

Elements relevant for the 4IR

12

13

Na Mg
22.99024.305

potassium

calcium

19

K

39.098rubidium37

scandiumtitanium

vanadium

Ca Sc

Ti

V

20

22

40.07844.95647.86750.942yttrium

zirconium

niobium

38

85.46887.62

caesiumbarium39

40

Y

137.33

radiummanganese

25

iron

26

cobalt27

nickel28

copper

29

zinc

30

26.98228.08630.97432.065gallium

germanium

arsenic

selenium31

51.99654.93855.84558.93358.69363.54665.38

69.723molybdenum

technetium

ruthenium

rhodium

palladium

silvercadmium

indium

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

16

32

33

34

88

17

35.45335

1020.18018

39.94836

72.64

74.92278.96

79.904tin

antimonytellurium

iodine

xenon

49

50

51

52

53

83.7985492.906

95.96

[98]

101.07102.91106.42107.87112.41114.82118.71121.76

127.60126.90I

Xe

tantalum

tungstenrhenium

osmium

iridium

platinumgoldmercury

thalliumleadbismuthpoloniumastatine

radon

73

178.49180.95rutherfordium

dubnium

104

105

74

75

76

W Re Os77

Ir

183.84186.21

190.23

192.22

seaborgium

bohriumhassium

meitnerium

106

107

108

109

78

79

80

81

Pt Au Hg Tl
195.08196.97

darmstadtium roentgenium

110

111

200.59204.38copernicium

nihonium

112

113

82

83

84

[261]

[262]

lanthanum

cerium

57

58

[266]

[264]

praseodymium neodymium

5960

208.98

[209]

[210]

[222]

moscovium

livermorium

tennessine

oganesson

114

115

116

[271]

[272]

[285]

[285]

[287]

[289]

[291]

promethium

samarium

europium

gadolinium

terbium

dysprosium

holmium

erbiumthulium

63

64

65

66

86

207.2

[268]

62

131.29Pb Bi Po At Rn

[277]

61

85

flerovium

Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv

[226]

9

91.224

Hf Ta

Fr Ra
[223]

24

15

8

hafnium

72

Cs Ba
132.9141

chromium

147

Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te

88.90656

francium87

23

strontium

Rb Sr
55

21

6

67

68

69

117

118

Ts Og
[294]

[294]

ytterbium

lutetium

70

71

La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
138.91140.12140.91144.24[145]

150.36151.96157.25158.93162.50164.93167.26168.93173.05174.97

actinium

thorium

protactinium

uranium

neptunium

plutonium

americium

curiumberkelium

californium

einsteinium

fermium

mendelevium

nobeliumlawrenciumU

Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf

89

90

91

Ac Th Pa[227]

232.04231.0492

238.03

93

[237]

94

[244]

95

[243]

96

[247]

97

[247]

98

[251]

99

100

101

102

103

Es Fm Md No Lr
[252]

[257]

[258]

[259]

[262]

Fig 3: Periodic table highlighting elements relevant for the 4IR
Source: UNU-INRA

624
25
Li-Lithium 35Br-Bromine
Be4-Beryllium
Cr-Chromium
Mn-Manganese
Fe-Iron40
4
42
46
Co-Cobalt W-Tungsten
Zr-Zirconium
Nb-Niobium
Mo-Molybdenum
Pd-Palladium
76
21
47
44
28
Os-Osmium
Sc-Scandium
Ag-Silver 63As-Arsenic
Ru-Ruthenium
Ni-Nickel
30
660
9Zn-Zinc 15P-Phosphorus
C-Carbon 92U-Uranium
Nd- Neodymium
F-Fluorine
50
55
45
37
49
Sn-Tin 57La-LanthanumCs- Cesium
Rh-Rhodium
Rb-Rubidium
In-Indium
79
78
52
59
82
Au-Gold Cd-Cadmium
Pt-Platinum
Te-Tellurium
Pr-Praseodymium
Pb-Lead
8O
29
65
66
39
-Oxygen 19K-Potassium
Cu-Copper
Tb-Terbium
Dy-Dysprosium
Y-Yttrium
14
37
31
64
51
Si-Silicon 63Eu-Europium
Ho-Holmium
Ga- Gallium
Gd-Gadolinium
Sb-Antimony
77
13
22
12
23
Ir-Iridium 73Ta-Tantalum
Al-Aluminum
Ti-Titanium
Mg-Magnesium
V-Vanadium
327

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UNU-INRA Policy brief | August 2020

Mineral Production/Deposits in Africa

https://inra.unu.edu

Country

Mineral Resources

Botswana

Fe, U, Ni, Cu, Co, Pt, Au, Pd, Ag, Graphite, Cr, Mn

Mozambique

Bauxite, Au, Graphite, Ta, Ti, Zr, Cu, Fe, V, Al, Pb, Nb

Namibia

As, U, Rh, Zn, Au, Cu, Pb, Mn, Li, Ag, Graphite, Fe, F, Cs, Rb

ZambiaCu, Co, Au, Pb, Rh, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni

Zimbabwe

Pd, Pt, other PGM’s, Cr, Rh, Au, Co, Au, Graphite, Li, Ni, Phosphate, Cu, W, Cs, Rb, Ag

AngolaFe, Cu, U, Pb, Zn, Sn, V, Ni, Au,

DRC

Co, Cu, Au, Ag, Sn, Zn, W, Ta, Li, Pb, Nb

Congo

Au

Tanzania

Au, Al, Cu, Graphite, Ag, Ni, U, Ti, Phosphate, Sn

Niger

Au, Ag, Sn, U, Ni

Burkina Faso

Au, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mo, Pb, Ag

Mali

Au, Phosphate, Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Li, Mn, Ni, Ag, Ti, U, W

Kenya

Ti, Zr, Au, Mn, Zr, F

SenegalPhosphate, Ti, Zr, Au, Fe, Ag

Ghana

Bauxite, Au, Mn, Li, Ag, Al

Gabon

Mn, Au,Egypt

Phosphate, Al, Au, Fe, Mn, Sn, F

Ethiopia

Pt, Pd, Nb

Togo

Phosphate, Au

MoroccoAs, Co, Phosphate, Cu, Au, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ag, Zn, F, Pb

Ethiopia

Ta, Au, Ag

Nigeria

Ta, Sn, Al, Au, Fe, Pb, Zr, Ag, Zn, Nb, W

RwandaTa, Sn, W, Au, Be, Nb

6

Sierra Leone

Ti, Bauxite, Au, Fe, Zr

GuineaAl, Fe, Au

Madagascar

Graphite, Cr, Co, Au, Ni, Zr, Cu, Be, Ti

Cameroon

Al, Au

Sudan

Cr, Au, Fe, Mn, Ag, Zn

UgandaCo, Au, Fe, Ta, Sn, W

Benin

Au

Central African
RepublicAu,

Equatorial Guinea

Au

Ivory CoastAu, Mn, Ni, Ag

Liberia

Au, FeSouth Sudan

Au

Algeria

Au, Fe, Ag, Zn

BurundiAu, Ta, Sn, W, Nb

EritreaAu, Ag, Zn

Mauritania

Au, FeMalawiFe, U

Swaziland

Fe

Tunisia

Fe, Zn, P

Table 2: Mineral Production/Deposits in Africa
Source: Author based on British Geological Survey, 2017;U.S. Geological Survey, 2019; World Bank, 2017b andGlobal Business Reports, 2016

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UNU-INRA Policy brief | August 2020

South Africa’s Mineral Resources for the
4th Industrial revolution
South Africa holds greater promise for these prospects, with 35 of the key minerals and currently producing 25(Minerals Council South Africa, 2019). (Table 2). South Africa has the largest deposit (70%) of PGM`s (usedboth in internal combustion engines and fuel cells) and second largest deposits and the leading global producerof chromium (U.S. Geological Survey, 2019), South Africa produces 70% of the worlds platinum, 45% of thechromium (used in wind turbines) and a third (74%) of the world’s manganese (a vital element for steel andadvanced batteries) (International Energy Agency, 2019; U.S. Geological Survey, 2019). South Africa also hasrich deposits of platinum, vermiculite, chromium, palladium, zirconium, vanadium, rutile, ilmenite, manganese,and gold, including the exceptionally rare PGM’s among others (Global Business Reports, 2016). South Africa,
mines at least five of the 16 minerals/metals used to produce solar panels, namely iron ore, lead, phosphate rock,silica and titanium oxide (Harvey, 2019).

Mineral% of Worlds Production

Antimony

16.7

Chromium45

Copper

2.4

Gold

12.7

Iron

0.8

Lead

2.1

Manganese Ore

80

Nickel

5.2

PGM’s

87.7

Phosphate

5.3

Titanium

9.8

Uranium

8

Vanadium

32

Zinc

3.3

Zirconium

25

Silicon1

Fluorspar (F)17

Cobalt1.6

Aluminum*

Silver*Rhodium*

Tellurium

1.6

Rare Earth Metals*

Table 3: South Africa’s Mineral Resources for the 4th Industrial revolution
Source: Author compiled from a variety of sources
South Africa has the highest-grade rare earth’s metal mine in the world useful for cell phones, computer memory,wind turbines and cell phone batteries. (Fig 4)

https://inra.unu.edu

8Terbium 5%
Cerium 5%

Dysprosium 8%

Neyodymium 55%

Others 7%

Lanthanum 2%
Gadolinium 3%
Holmium 1%
Yttrium 1%

Praseodymium 19%

Fig 4: Relative economic value of the rare earth metals at Steenkampskraal mine in Western Cape South Africa.
Source: Steenkampskraal (2019)

Next steps
There is a particular concern about growing economic importance and high risk of supply shortage of some ofthese critical metals”, delivering new low-carbon energy, transport and digital technologies (MineralsUK, 2017;
Living With Environemental Change, 2015). Among these are: antimony, beryllium, cobalt, gallium, germanium,graphite, indium, magnesium, niobium, platinum group metals, rare earth elements, tantalum, tungsten. This
calls for efficient use and recycling of these materials (BGS, 2019a).
African countries enriched with these strategic minerals must develop strong governance structures and theright capacities and strategies to enable them realize maximize the benefit of these resources. African government must apply the right fiscal policies to enhance their competitiveness and attract investments (Dobbs et al.,2013). About 37% of reserves of minerals and metals are in countries with weak resource governance (Tilley &Manley, 2017). Though global poverty is falling, many mineral-rich African countries like the DRC, Zambia, andZimbabwe have rising poverty levels (FERREIRA, LAKNER, & SÁNCHEZ-PÁRAMO, 2017;Arndt, McKay, &Tarp, 2016). Zimbabwe’s output of lithium is far below other producing countries, despite having much larger
reserves). Fragile states like the DRC risk missing the many development benefits of a future in which low-carbon
pathways generate a rising demand for their metals and minerals (Addison, 2018).

37%

About 37% of reserves of minerals and metals
are in countries with weak resource(Tilley & Manley, 2017)https://inra.unu.edu

9UNU-INRA Policy brief | August 2020

African governments must prepare to provide critical infrastructure-road/rail facility, water supply and power.
This can be done in synergy with the development plans of the community to enable development of not only
the natural resources but also enable greater community engagement in economic activity associated with mining
and by that promote development of local communities and diversification of the economy (Dobbs et al., 2013).
African government expecting to be relevant in metals and minerals market for the low carbon future must begin
to decarbonize their energy system by increasing the share of renewables in the power supplied to mines, and in
the transport system which serves them reducing their own GHG emissions (Addison, 2018).
African governments must be well prepared by building their capacity on contracting (Dobbs et al., 2013; UNECA, 2011). governments’ interactions with extractive companies, it is particularly important that they have strong
market intelligence that encompasses prices, trends, investment dynamics, the economics of exploration, and thedrivers of domestic competitiveness (Dobbs et al., 2013)
African governments must begin to diversify their economies to be less dependent on fossil fuel and begin todesign policies and approaches to take advantage of the emerging markets of the low carbon future and the 4th
Industrial revolution.
Governments must develop a mineral beneficiation strategy to enable them realize the full potential of their mineral wealth. In the resources sector, this often means creating new industries that process a country’s resources
rather than export raw materials.( refining and manufacturing processes) makes substantial contributions toeconomic development through employment, skills development, and supply chains (Dobbs et al., 2013). a resources boom can also be an opportunity to create a step change in agricultural productivity. A rapidly growing
resources sector can create rising prosperity and therefore increase the demand for food. At the same time, aresources boom can reinforce urbanization through the migration of people from rural areas to cities by creating
demand for local services and potentially public-sector employment. Higher demand for food and fewer people
working on farms is an opportunity to adopt new techniques to improve agriculture productivity—indeed, doing
so is a necessity.

Policy Considerations
1. Africa’s knowledge of the scale and distribution of these mineral and metal resources remains is limited.
There should be increase investments in mineral mapping and exploration to provide sufficient data on
the deposits and reserves of these resources.
2. Governments need to develop an industrialization strategy to take advantage of the opportunities associated with the 4th industrial revolution such as electric vehicles and robotics.
3. Restructure their governance structures and be well placed to benefit from the resource boom that is
emerging from the low-carbon transition Weak resource governance deters the investment necessary todevelop the sector and provide the revenues. (Addison, 2018).
4. African governments should put in place measures to ensure sustainable production, consumption andrecycling of critical metals.

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UNU-INRA Policy brief | August 2020

About UNU-INRA—The United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA)
is one of the 15 research and training centres of the United Nations University (UNU)
and is the only one focusing predominantly on Africa. We provide cutting-edge
solutions and knowledge outlets for natural resource planning and managementfrom an African perspective.

Acknowledgement—

This work was carried out in partnershipwith XX.

UNU-INRA serves as a platform to amplify African voices and showcase
made-in-Africa solutions. We harness the incredible talent on the continent andalso strengthen and develop capabilities by equipping African researchers, entrepreneurs and policy actors with the requisite knowledge to sustainably manage natural resources. We deliver research, capacity development and policy advice, andwe convene spaces for knowledge sharing.
Our operating units across 5 countries in Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon,
Zambia and Namibia) give us on-the-ground knowledge, while our global networkof experts and the wider UNU group give us a comparative advantage in the production and export of knowledge.
It is our vision for Africa to realise the transformational potential of natural resourcesin the context of sustainable development and deliver a prosperous, fair and resilient
future.

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United Nations University

Institute For Natural Resources In Africa
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