African Mining Week to spotlight $8.5 trillion investment potential

The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference, taking place from October 14 to 16, 2026 in Cape Town, will feature a dedicated panel exploring the role of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in unlocking Africa’s mining investment potential.

Titled ‘Leveraging Global M&As to Secure Investment’, the panel will bring together global investors, mining companies, African policymakers and industry stakeholders to examine how strategic transactions can sustain investor confidence and accelerate capital flows into Africa’s mining sector. The session will also discuss how M&As can support the development of the continent’s estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources, while strengthening Africa’s role in global critical minerals supply chains.

Rising critical minerals demand accelerates Africa’s M&A activity

As global demand for critical minerals increases – and is expected to triple by 2030 – M&A activity across Africa’s mining sector is accelerating. Investors from the United States, Europe, China and the United Arab Emirates are pursuing strategic acquisitions, joint ventures and equity partnerships to strengthen their mineral supply chains.

Inbound M&A deal values into Africa increased by 40% in 2025, with several African mining jurisdictions – including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mali, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Zambia – emerging as hotspots for these strategic investments.

In February 2026, Exxaro Resources completed a R10.6 billion acquisition of manganese assets in South Africa from Ntsimbintle Holdings and OM Holdings. The acquisition strengthens Exxaro’s strategy to diversify into battery minerals and steelmaking inputs, while supporting South Africa’s agenda to attract fresh investment and maintain its position as the world’s leading manganese producer.

Similarly, China’s Baowu Resources increased its stake in the Simandou Iron Ore Project in Guinea to 51%, strengthening China’s access to one of the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposits. The investment also supports Guinea’s Simandou 2040 economic growth strategy, which aims to leverage mining development to stimulate infrastructure expansion and broader economic growth.

Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding acquired a 56% stake in tin miner Alphamin Resources for approximately $367 million, securing a majority position in a major tin operation in the DRC.

In Zambia, International Resources Holding’s investment in Mopani Copper Mines, as part of a $1 billion recapitalisation, is reviving operations. This has supported Zambia’s 8% rise in copper output in 2025 and is helping drive the country’s 2031 target to increase production to three million tonnes per annum.

These transactions not only signal growing investment flows into Africa but also underscore the continent’s strategic role in securing global supply chains. M&As are proving pivotal in driving job creation, infrastructure development and broader economic growth.

Against this backdrop, the AMW panel will offer stakeholders a platform to examine the evolving M&A landscape and identify opportunities for new investment partnerships.

AMW serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event will be held alongside African Energy Week 2026, taking place from October 12 to 16 in Cape Town.