The United Kingdom is significantly boosting its investments in Africa’s mining sector as it seeks to secure access to both critical and traditional minerals vital for the green energy transition and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
With the African continent home to an estimated 30% of the world’s critical minerals, UK financiers and mining firms are eyeing major opportunities boosting both Africa’s economic prospects and the UK’s strategic mineral supply chains.
The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference, set to take place in Cape Town from 1–3 October 2025, will play host to a pivotal forum titled “European Partnerships in African Mining: A Mutually Beneficial Future”. The roundtable will connect UK and European investors with key mining projects across Africa and shine a spotlight on UK-backed ventures that advance mineral production and local value addition.
Major UK-Backed Projects
Among the standout developments:
Blencowe Resources is advancing the Orom-Cross Graphite Project in Uganda. In August 2025, it signed a five-year offtake agreement with Perpetuus Advanced Materials Ltd, aimed at supplying graphite to the UK, supported by a US $1.5 million funding boost from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
In the Republic of Congo, Kore Potash is leading a US $2.2 billion investment in the Kola Potash Project, in partnership with Swiss investor OWI-RAMS GmbH.
The British Geological Survey, in collaboration with Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development, has produced a thorough report mapping critical mineral opportunities in Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer providing UK firms with a roadmap for investment.
Gemfields is scaling up operations in ruby mining across Zambia and Mozambique, and expanding gemstone investments in Ethiopia and Madagascar. The firm raised US $30 million in June 2025 through a share placement to finance these activities.
Additional British players such as Xtract Resources and Endeavour Mining are broadening their presence in Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Zambia.
The UK’s investment arm, British International Investment (BII), has played a critical role in expanding financial support to Africa’s mining sectors. In 2024, BII-backed investments in African companies surged 40%, from £725 million in 2023 to £1.09 billion.
AMW 2025 will further this momentum by fostering partnerships, aligning UK and African mining agendas, and facilitating industry-transforming agreements.
African Mining Week has emerged as a prominent platform for discussing the full array of mining opportunities across the continent. Hosted alongside African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025, this co-located event from 1–3 October is set to become a convergence point for energy and mining stakeholders, investors, policymakers, and industry experts.
As the global economy transitions toward clean energy, demand for minerals such as graphite, copper, ruby, and potash is surging. By boosting investment, enhancing geological mapping and entering offtake agreements, the UK is positioning itself at the forefront of securing critical supply chains while supporting African nations in developing locally added-value mining sectors.
African Mining Week’s strategic location, thematic focus, and robust delegate mix make it an essential meeting point in shaping Africa’s industrial future.
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