By: Mining.com.au

African governments and mining financiers are expediting partnerships to enhance geological knowledge, unlock investment and strengthen industrial capacity.

One example is the agreement between Gabon’s Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources and Council for Geoscience of South Africa.

As previously reported, the partnership enables Gabon to leverage South Africa’s expertise in geological mapping, exploration and resource assessment to improve its national mineral database and support the diversification of its mining sector.

Another example is the partnership prioritising local capacity building, workforce development and knowledge transfer which strengthens Gabon’s institutional and technical capabilities to support long-term mining sector growth.

Financial cooperation is also playing a role in unlocking regional mineral development. This news comes after the South African Industrial Development Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month, with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fonds de Promotion de I’Industrie.

Both parties will finance and co-develop projects across the mining, energy and logistics value chain. By aligning development finance institutions, the partnership reduces funding constraints that have historically delayed project development, while directing capital toward beneficiation infrastructure, processing facilities and transport corridors that enable greater value addition within Africa.

Similarly, several African producers are leveraging South Africa’s technical expertise to de-risk exploration and accelerate mineral sector development.

Nigeria and South Sudan have signed cooperation agreements with South African institutions focused on geological mapping, exploration and technical collaboration. These partnerships form part of broader national strategies to diversify economic growth away from petroleum dependence and toward mining-led industrialisation.

Energy Capital & Power say these agreements reflect a growing recognition among African governments that regional cooperation is essential to unlocking the continent’s mineral wealth.

Regional cooperation enables countries to pool financial resources, share infrastructure such as railways, power systems and ports, as well as coordinate industrial strategies that support downstream beneficiation and manufacturing.

This news comes ahead of African Mining Week (AMW), taking place from 14-16 October 2026 which is emerging as a critical platform to convert geological potential into investable projects, partnerships, and value chain development across the continent.

Held in Cape Town, this year’s event will examine how African producers can move beyond the volume-led growth to capture greater value across mining, processing, and trade.

AMW 2026 will feature high-level panel discussions, technical workshops, and networking sessions. The 2025 event attracted around 1,500 delegates, more than 85 speakers, and 315 companies and representatives from 22 countries.