African Mining Week Puts M&A at the Heart of $8.5tn Mineral Ambitions

Africa’s bid to convert geological potential into investable projects is set to be tested—and showcased—at African Mining Week (AMW) in Cape Town this October. Rather than focusing only on exploration or production, organisers are placing mergers and acquisitions at the centre of discussions about how capital can move faster into the continent’s mining sector.

A dedicated panel titled “Leveraging Global M&As to Secure Investment” will bring together investors, mining executives and policymakers to examine how strategic transactions can help sustain investor confidence while supporting development tied to Africa’s estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources. The agenda also reflects a wider push to strengthen Africa’s position in global critical minerals supply chains.

Deal momentum rises as demand for critical inputs accelerates

The emphasis on transactions comes amid expectations that global demand for critical minerals will triple by 2030, a shift that is already feeding a broader wave of deal activity across Africa. Investors from the US, Europe, China and the Gulf are increasingly using acquisitions, joint ventures and equity stakes as tools to secure access to key resources.

Inbound M&A deal values into Africa rose by 40% in 2025. Within that flow, countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Zambia have been highlighted as prominent destinations for investors seeking exposure to mining assets.

Recent transactions show how buyers are reshaping exposure

The conference programme points to several deals that illustrate both scale and intent behind current investment strategies. In South Africa, Exxaro Resources completed a R10.6 billion acquisition of manganese assets, expanding its exposure to battery minerals and steel inputs while aligning with efforts aimed at attracting new capital into the sector.

In Guinea, China’s Baowu Resources increased its stake in the Simandou iron ore project to 51%, securing greater access to one of the world’s largest undeveloped iron ore deposits. The investment is also described as supporting Guinea’s long-term economic strategy to use mining for infrastructure and industrial growth.

Elsewhere in Central Africa, Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding (IRH) acquired a 56% stake in Alphamin Resources for approximately $367 million, consolidating its position in tin. In Zambia, IRH’s involvement in a $1 billion recapitalisation of Mopani Copper Mines is linked to efforts aimed at reviving production—contributing to an 8% increase in copper output in 2025. The recapitalisation is also tied to ambitions to significantly scale production by 2031.

M&A becomes part of a broader economic playbook

The surge in dealmaking is framed as more than just capital inflows. Organisers say it signals Africa’s growing centrality to global efforts seeking reliable supplies of critical minerals. Beyond financing, transaction activity is expected to support outcomes such as job creation, infrastructure development and industrial expansion—reinforcing why mining remains strategically important for economic growth across the continent.

A platform built around partnerships—and execution risk

Against this backdrop, AMW aims to position itself as a platform for connecting global capital with African opportunities. With competition for resources intensifying, organisers argue that structuring and executing deals efficiently may become decisive for how quickly Africa can translate mineral wealth into sustainable economic value through consolidation and strategic partnerships.