African Union - Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, Minerals (ETTIM)’s Post

On my way to 15th Unctad expert meeting on commodities and development in Palais des Nations, Geneva, where I will speak on energy

Bolstering the supply chains of critical minerals that are inputs in low-carbon #technologies is necessary to meet the expected high demand for such minerals in the worldwide transition to #cleanenergy. An ADB #policy brief outlines 1️⃣ the projected demand for minerals used in clean energy technologies under three scenarios 2️⃣ the risks facing the supply chains of such minerals, from extraction to processing and price volatility 3️⃣ the economic #opportunities for developing countries in Asia and the Pacific, and 4️⃣ policy recommendations to realize these opportunities in a #sustainable manner. 🟠 READ https://buff.ly/3xNRK0a #SDG7 #SDG9 Cyn-Young Park

🌍 SIREXE 2024: Unveiling Africa’s Extractive and Energy Potential 🌍 From November 27 to December 2, 2024, #Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, will host the International Extractive and #Energy Resources Exhibition (SIREXE 2024), a pivotal event designed to spotlight Africa’s vast natural resources and underscore its strategic role in the global energy landscape. Bringing together #industry leaders, policymakers, and global investors, SIREXE 2024 will serve as a dynamic platform to catalyze private investment across mining, petroleum, and energy sectors. This #forum is not just a showcase—it’s a call to action, inviting stakeholders to explore transformative opportunities that will drive #sustainable growth and economic advancement on the continent. With #Africa poised to play an increasingly influential role in meeting global energy demands, SIREXE 2024 promises to shape the conversation around resource #development and #investment in extractive #industries. Be part of the dialogue. Be part of the change. #Investment #Energy #ExtractiveIndustries #Africa #SIREXE2024 #CoteDIvoire #EconomicGrowth

This week, I had the privilege to present at a UN DESA Expert Group Meeting on critical minerals alongside the several leading experts in #cleanenergy and #criticalminerals fields. The discussions were meant to inform the United Nations’ flagship publication World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2025 - this year with a focus on critical minerals (https://lnkd.in/ehBzgPA8). My intervention as an observer with an Indian perspective can be summarised as four questions aimed at better defining the role of a multilateral institution in "securing CRMs" for the world's sustainable future: 1. First, should organisations like the UN and G20 still be treating potential critical mineral supply shortfalls as the major threat to global clean energy deployment? Global minerals are at slight oversupply (https://lnkd.in/dbTg5wpc), as are clean energy tech products - but this hasn't translated to a rapid scale up of clean energy outside China. Rather, at a time of rock-bottom prices, countries are choosing to erect high tariff barriers, fragment the market and drive prices up. 2. What is the end goal of countries' choosing market fragmentation over deployment? It is unlikely to be purely energy security. Clean energy technologies, unlike fossil fuels, stay in the energy system until retirement. Availability could easily be assured by diversifying or indigenizing 10 or 20% (as an example) of their annual demand. Countries in North America, Europe and Asia are choosing to partially close their markets to increase domestic value addition, create jobs and not cede a technologically complex sector. 3. While point 2 may be an obvious insight, how can this help multilaterals reframe their role in "harnessing the potential for critical minerals in sustainable development"? Perhaps rather than trying to simply drive investment into CRMs, multilaterals should help sustain a demand signal for clean energy from countries that are continuing to fall behind on their climate action (https://lnkd.in/dZbHW23X). We have already seen over the last decade that consistent demand and commensurate price signals have led to increased investment in mining and refining. While technology risk is an important consideration for the actual manufacturers, multilaterals might be better suited tackling demand-side challenges and keeping commodity markets open. 4. And finally, can multilaterals help harness the potential of critical minerals for developing countries not simply as producers but as manufacturers themselves? All too often, developing countries' role in critical minerals is framed simply as increasing rents from mining, and perhaps some refining. My personal opinion is that enabling South-South co-operation on clean energy, from mines to manufacturing and recycling, and increasing access to technologies through-out the value chain, would be the best way to achieve global SDGs. But perhaps this is a pipe dream. Only time will tell.

The United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC), developed at United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, is helping Southeast #Europe strengthen supply chains for critical #energytransition #minerals and boost #sustainability. To support UNFC implementation in Southeast Europe, in collaboration with the Ministry of Mining and Energy of #Serbia, the Geological Survey of Serbia, the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission, and the Horizon Europe Project GSEU - Geological Service for Europe, UNECE recently organized a workshop in Belgrade. The workshop gathered representatives from #Albania, #BosniaandHerzegovina, #Montenegro, #Romania, and Serbia and emphasized the importance of informed decision-making and policy formulation in securing resilient #supplychains for critical raw materials. It also provided practical insights into UNFC application and integration into national systems. Discussions further focused on bridging and mapping from National and International Reporting Systems to UNFC, ensuring seamless data harmonization and comparability across borders. These efforts aim to align the region with EU standards, contributing to #environmental sustainability and #economic growth.  Learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/da5334ew UNECE Sustainable Energy Dario Liguti Gianluca Sambucini Hari Tulsidas Michal Drabik Chiara Giamberardini Igor L. Iva Brkic Branko Milicevic Nadejda K. Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic Matilde Mordt Ingrid Macdonald Fiona McCluney Gjorgjiev Vladimir

🌟 Highlights from the Africa Industrialization Week 2024 🌟 As Africa Industrialization Week unfolds, the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) is shaping discussions on sustainable industrialization and the future of Africa’s green minerals. 🔹 Side Events: We hosted three impactful side events, fostering dynamic discussions on: 1️⃣ Minerals-Based Circular Economy Models for Sustainable Industrialization 2️⃣ Leveraging Green Minerals for Regional Value Chains 3️⃣ The Draft Africa Green Minerals Strategy - Advancing Energy, Green Technology, and Industrialization in Africa: A Collaborative Approach 🔹 Key Presentation: Dr. Marit Kitaw, Interim Director of the AMDC, presented the Draft African Green Minerals Strategy, showcasing a vision for leveraging Africa’s mineral wealth to drive industrialization, electrification, and sustainable development in the low-carbon economy. 🔹 Key Takeaways: Africa’s rich reserves of green minerals like cobalt, lithium, and manganese position the continent as a leader in the global energy transition. The AMDC continues to advocate for the adoption of the Draft African Green Minerals Strategy, aligning with Agenda 2063 and addressing climate justice. Collaboration, innovation, and value chain development are critical for transforming Africa’s mineral resources into engines of sustainable growth. 🌍 Africa is on the verge of a green industrial revolution, and the AMDC is proud to champion this transformative journey. #AIW2024 #GreenMinerals #AMDCMedia

Last week I presented on a panel on Green Extractivism in the African context at the Green Extractivism Symposium. The extraction of critical minerals is replicating the same geopolitics of previous fossil fuel energy production. In order for Africa to actually benefit from the multitude of critical minerals found on the continent, an economic restructuring needs to take place, one that places our own green industrialisation.

Poland-based Hynfra is planning to build a plant for green ammonia production in Egypt, with an initial investment of $1.6 billion. Read more > https://shorturl.at/gGmzq #ArabFinance #Egypt #Economy #News

Dr. Chantelle G. Moyo, Programme Manager: Regional Programme Energy Security and Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, has joined the Critical Minerals Africa (CMA) Summit as a Moderator! Chantelle G Moyo has 10+ years experience in academia and the NGO sector focusing on environmental governance, natural resource governance, climate change and energy in the Global South. Her expertise is in national, regional (Africa) and international policy-making and negotiation processes relating to climate change. Dr Moyo is a published author in these thematic areas and is a seasoned researcher and consultant with experience in multi-country donor-funded projects in Africa on the extractives, energy governance, climate change and recently carbon markets. Dr Moyo will participate in a session titled: “Opportunities in Critical Metals and Minerals: Automotive and Battery Focus”, where she will moderate a panel discussion highlighting the role of critical minerals in transitioning to low-carbon energy, with emphasis on cross-border value chains like the DRC-Zambia Free Zone. Attend CMA, Africa's leading investment platform for critical minerals. This premier event, held November 6-7 in Cape Town, brings together global leaders, producers, and investors to foster investment in African projects. Under the theme "Innovate, Enact, Invest: Africa's Critical Role in Global Growth," CMA will showcase Africa's potential as a prime investment destination for critical minerals. 🔗 Book your delegate pass: https://lnkd.in/dKbchU2r 🔗To get in touch with the team about your participation, visit: https://hubs.la/Q02SlTRt0 #CMA2024 #CriticalMinerals #InvestinAfrica #Energy #Mining #DRC #Zambia #Climate #Carbon 

The following Occasional Paper by Mondli Hlatshwayo analyses how modern-day technological innovations of the Global North are still based on unequal relations with the Global South through the extraction of minerals and other resources to support the economies of the Global North. It argues for a greater consideration of these factors in analyses of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). #4IR #GlobalSouth #GlobalNorth #BetterAfrica #BetterWorld https://lnkd.in/dhzT_6Am