Brussels: The European Union (EU) has increased financial and technical support for Africa's mining sector in the first half of 2025, aligning its foreign investment strategy with the continent's agenda to shape the global energy transition. In June this year, the EU named four Africa-based projects as part of its 13 globally strategic initiatives under the Critical Raw Materials Act. The projects include Mkango Resources' 8,425-ton-per-annum Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project in Malawi and Frontier Rare Earths' 4,000-ton-per-annum Zandkopsdrift magnet-grade rare earths project in South Africa. The Maniry Graphite Project in Madagascar led by Evion Group and a 6,000-ton-per-annum cobalt refinery in Zambia are also among the projects set to receive EU financial support and technical assistance.
According to African Press Organization, amid increased EU support for African mining projects, the upcoming African Mining Week - Africa's premier gathering for mining stakeholders, taking place from October 1-3, 2025, in Cape Town - will showcase lucrative investment and cooperation opportunities for EU companies in Africa's burgeoning mining sector. The event will feature an EU-Africa Roundtable, showcasing the EU's contribution to Africa's mining sector sustainability.
The EU-DRC Mining Partnership has also been strengthened, further highlighting the EU's commitment to enhancing its partnerships within Africa's mining landscape. In addition, the EU-South Africa partnership has been bolstered with the recent announcement of a £4.7 billion financing package to support mineral processing, green hydrogen, and transport infrastructure in South Africa, the world's largest producer of platinum group metals. This financing package reflects a growing focus on securing diversified and sustainable mineral supply chains. At African Mining Week, a dedicated panel exploring South Africa's PGMs market will showcase emerging prospects for EU firms within the country's value chain.
Growing support for formalized artisanal mining is also evident, as the EU has committed to the ACP-EU Technical Assistance Facility for Commodity Resource Management, launched in February to support artisanal and small-scale miners across Africa through formalization and training programs. As part of growing efforts by African nations and international partners to uplift small-scale miners, African Mining Week will host a panel discussion titled ASM Regulation: Balancing Formalization and Livelihood Protection. The panel will explore policies and initiatives aimed at integrating artisanal and small-scale mining into the formal mining sector.