Book chapter
The Geopolitical Race for Critical Minerals in Africa
The Rising Significance of Critical Minerals in Africa: Potential for Cooperation
Indian Council of World Affairs
2025
Abstract
The global energy transition depends heavily on technologies that require substantial mineral inputs. Renewable energy systems—including electricity grids, solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles (EVs), and geothermal infrastructure— rely on a range of metals such as lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements (Boafo et al., 2024; International Energy Agency, 2023). These technologies are significantly more resource-intensive than their fossil fuel-based counterparts. For example, producing one EV car requires six times more mineral inputs than a conventional gasoline-powered car. At the same time, an onshore wind plant demands nine times the mineral resources of a gas-fired power plant (International Energy Agency, 2021a)...
Details
- Title
- The Geopolitical Race for Critical Minerals in Africa
- Authors/Creators
- James Boafo (Contributor) - Murdoch University, School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- Publication Details
- The Rising Significance of Critical Minerals in Africa: Potential for Cooperation
- Publisher
- Indian Council of World Affairs; Sapru House, New Delhi
- Identifiers
- 991005800850207891
- Copyright
- © ICWA July 2025
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
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