Dr. Mithika Mwenda, PACJA CEO
By Elias Ngalame
Dr. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of PACJA has called on stakeholders to ensure Africa utilizes its critical minerals to drive a just transition, which avoids human rights and environmental violations.
He made the call at the opening a two -day Africa Consultative Forum on Critical minerals and Just Transition in South Africa, August 21-22, 2024.
The forum that brings together Africa CSOs, Policymakers, academia, media and others is holding under the theme “Evading the Resource curse in the critical minerals driving the net zero transition and NDCs implementation.”
Dr. Mithika Mwenda pointed out “the need to empower stakeholders to protect and assert their rights in the evolving climate and mineral extraction sectors.”
He commended the progress made by African countries to improve governance, but said challenges remain in many other areas such as value addition, and the strengthening of linkages, while the exploitation of minerals poses multifaceted environmental, social, and geopolitical challenges.
Dr Mithika described South Africa as an ideal location for these discussions due to its complex energy, environmental, and economic challenges, making it a microcosm of the broader African struggle for a just transition.
“We urge for strengthening collaboration between organizations focused on extractives, climate, and energy to leverage development opportunities, the promotion of cooperation among governments, industry, academia, and civil society for sustainable governance of critical minerals, the galvanization of broad-based actions and policymaking processes that emphasize people-centred approaches in mineral investments,” Mithika said.
He reminded that the forum’s theme focuses on avoiding the “resource curse” associated with mineral extraction, where economic benefits often come with severe social and environmental costs.
Stakeholders agree that Africa is endowed with abundance of cobalt, manganese, lithium, nickel, copper, graphite, and other minerals positioning the continent as a key player in shaping the future of clean energy supply and, with it, global sustainable development.
But they also note that only a just and fair exploitation will generate sustainable jobs, diversify economies, and dramatically boost revenues which, can support development and transformation.
“ There is a strong call for Africa to add value to its mineral resources rather than being mere exporters of raw materials, which is essential for achieving a just and inclusive economic transition,” Mithika said.
He also stressed on the importance of combating corruption in the extractive sector to ensure that mineral wealth genuinely contributes to Africa’s development.
According to reports, Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to hold 30 percent of the world’s critical mineral reserves including deposits of lithium, cobalt, and copper, which are crucial for the fourth industrial revolution, presenting massive opportunities for global partnership and investment.
In his presentation on the regional context of the UN’s work in the extractive industries sector, John Sloan, the Economic Affairs Officer at ECA, emphasized the potential of mineral based development for economic transformation in Africa, highlighting the region’s vast mineral endowments, the need for value addition and job creation in mining industry.
According to him, the private sector, governments, and civil societies, should revisit incentives for job creation in sectors like manufacturing and address need for global policy stability given rapid technology changes.
“There is need to focus on mineral-based development in Africa focusing on value addition and economic transformation,” said Sloan.
Officials also noted that artisanal and small-scale mining in Africa provides vital livelihoods for millions, particularly women and youth, however, challenges persist including lack of transparency and accountability in chains leading to unequal benefit sharing and negative impacts on vulnerable groups.
According to experts, the multiple recent discussions on critical minerals consists of the major critical energy transition minerals producing and consuming countries, as well as regional and international institutions active in the energy transition space, trade associations for mineral producers globally, civil societies.
