2026 Agenda

Explore strategies to align long-term mine planning with fast-moving tech lifecycles. How can lifecycle mapping, workforce upskilling, and smart vendor partnerships future-proof operations and unlock value today, but account for evolving technology in the medium to long-term?

Driver profiling technologies are reshaping workforce training in mining by enabling personalised, data- driven approaches to skill development and safety. Through tools such as accident simulation, real-time behavioural analytics, and performance benchmarking, learn how operators can receive training that reflects their unique driving patterns, risk profiles, and learning needs.

As mining enters a new era of digital transformation, it faces a critical question: why reinvent the wheel when adjacent industries have already paved the way? While mining companies may not directly partner with oil and gas operators, the technology providers often work across both sectors, serving as conduits for cross-industry innovation. Learn how these shared tech ecosystems could empower mining to leapfrog legacy systems, reduce implementation risk, and benefit from mature solutions already tested in high-pressure environments

Keynote by a leading expert in the field presenting their annual commodity outlook report exclusively at Mining Indaba. Explore short and long-term forecasts for commodity markets.

More information coming soon

As capital markets tighten and risk aversion grows, traditional mining finance is evolving - with public-private partnerships (PPPs), development finance institutions (DFIs), and blended finance emerging as vital de-risking tools. This panel explores how these collaborations are transforming.

Join industry leaders for a focused conversation on the evolving dynamics shaping the copper markets. This session will unpack key macroeconomic drivers, price outlooks and what to watch in 2026 and beyond.

This session will seek to identify and brainstorm actionable policy and regulatory frameworks that better enable African governments to leverage their mineral wealth – shifting from traditional commodity extraction to a more diversified, complex economic model. It will explore how African countries can move beyond simple resource extraction to build economic complexity through industrialization, technological innovation and advanced manufacturing.

As mining operations evolve, so too must the systems that safeguard them. This panel explores how leading mining houses are replacing outdated, paper-based compliance processes with agile, cloud-based platforms that deliver real-time visibility across multiple sites. Discover how tools like HSEC Online® are transforming safety and compliance from a tick-box exercise into a strategic, data-driven function – reducing duplication, streamlining administration, and empowering teams to make faster, smarter decisions.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

With Trump administration policy now embracing a 'clean coal industry' approach, the global energy debate is shifting once more. For Africa, where coal is abundant and affordable energy source, does this mark a green light for coal investment? This panel will explore if coal investment can align with sustainability mandates of institutional investors and whether new coal developments can coexist with Just Energy Transition (JET) commitments.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

This session will explore the strategic role of advanced manufacturing technologies and critical minerals in driving industrialisation across Africa. It will delve into how Africa can tap into its rich mineral resources to develop competitive manufacturing sectors, creating amore integrated and sustainable industrial base. Featuring insights from the WEF's recent thought leadership publications, the session will provide actionable strategies for African policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to transform these opportunities into tangible outcomes.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

Can mines go zero-waste and zero-emission – while scaling up production? This session explores how cutting-edge technologies are making it possible. The question is – can technology help mines deliver on first-world ESG requirements in Africa?

This session brings together market analysts, producers, and financiers to explore the drivers behind uranium’s bullish momentum. Gain insight into price outlooks, investment flows, and where the next wave of production will come from.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

This session will explore how the automotive sector in Africa can drive economic growth by enhancing localization in manufacturing, supply chains, and component production. Hosted by the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) and the Automotive Industrial Transformation Fund (AITF), gain insights on the collaborative role between leading global automotive OEMs, components supplier companies, mining companies and governments and how automotive industrialisation can be actively shaped.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

As the race for critical minerals intensifies, Africa is evolving from a supplier of raw materials into an emerging hub for processing and advanced manufacturing. This panel explores the next phase of value creation from midstream to downstream development. What makes a beneficiation project bankable in today’s climate, how are investors evaluating risk, and what role do co-investment structures, tax incentives, and strategic offtakes play.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks in mining’s digital transformation isn’t the technology, it’s training the workforce to use the technology. As advanced technology systems become more prevalent, the need for robust training and cultural adaptation grows more urgent. This session explores how companies are tackling the skills gap head-on and also examines the next training frontier: agentic AI. Join this session to unpack how training, cultural transformation, and OEM-led innovation are converging to make mining smarter, safer, and more human-centred.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

This session will explore how both development and commercial financiers can better support Africa's industrialisation agenda by focusing on the challenges and opportunities in funding manufacturing projects. Emphasis will also be placed on leveraging local minerals, commodities, and metals to create competitive advantages for Africa’s manufacturing and industrialisation projects. Gain actionable solutions for development finance institutions, government, and private sector stakeholders to collaborate in deepening manufacturing value chains by using Africa’s natural resources as a strategic asset.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

As global interest in Africa’s critical minerals grows, so does the opportunity for collective action on value addition and beneficiation. Yet meaningful integration remains elusive. What tangible progress has been made toward regional and continental cohesion, and can Africa overcome the structural, political, and logistical barriers that continue to fragment its economic power?

The Angola Mining Business Forum will outline the current opportunities, as well as mapping the geological, legislative and investment changes being undertaken to enrich the upcoming and existing mining opportunities. Sessions will focus on the geological and mining potential, legislative frameworks and investment opportunities.

Technology adoption across the sector remains slow, fragmented, and often stuck in pilot mode. Why? Mining Indaba reframes this challenge: not as a technology problem, but as a collaboration opportunity. It explores how strategic partnerships, between mining companies, technology specialists, research institutions, and governments, can overcome the barriers holding technology back.

Step into the “veil of ignorance” – an experiment CEOs speakers temporarily shed their identities and biases to adopt the roles of other stakeholders in the mining ecosystem.

From community leaders and regulators to industry bodies and investors, each CEO will embody a perspective not their own, challenging assumptions and fostering deeper understanding.

Through moderated dialogue and immersive role-play, the session will explore:

• How decisions might shift if stakeholders were unaware of their own position or power
• What true partnership looks like when empathy precedes strategy
• How this exercise can inform more inclusive policy, investment, and operational frameworks

The traditional definition for critical minerals was defined by the global north referring to minerals needed for the energy transition. Should Africa follow this definition, is it right for its development, and is there a clear way to avoid definition overload?

Investor confidence and national development goals often pull in different directions. Chambers of Mines operate at the intersection of these competing interests. How can they redefine their role as honest brokers between governments, regulators and industry?

Conventional wisdom suggests that Africa is negatively impacted by the current geopolitical forces. Tariffs, immigration curbs, reduced development funding and a more nationalist agenda in traditional allies are risks to Africa's growth, particularly in minerals. But could the opposite be true? Could the geopolitical (dis)order have more upside than downside for the continent, through for instance - new investment and trade routes, extra focus on intra-Africa trade, and a push for local beneficiation and industrialisation? 

This debate will see two teams argue the case in opposite directions relating to Africa's place in the current geopolitical order. The views they express may not represent their personal or organisational view, but they assume the side they've been given so we can benefit from a diversity of perspectives.

China’s mining sector has leapfrogged in automation, processing, and digital integration. Explore how African mining can learn from Chinese innovation, particularly in critical minerals, remote operations, and AI, and how partnerships with Chinese tech providers can fast-track Africa’s mining sector and its industrialisation objectives. From lithium refineries to smart haulage, collaboration is the key to unlocking shared growth.

As traditional mining finance faces increasing constraints, a diverse range of less conventional sources of capital is emerging to fill the gap. From sovereign wealth funds to strategic offtakers, the mining investment landscape in 2026 is more varied than ever. This panel explores how these alternative types of capital are reshaping project financing and what investors in these segments are looking for, how mining companies can position themselves to attract this funding.

As the global conversation around critical minerals intensifies, driven by the energy transition, digitalisation, and geopolitical shifts, coal remains notably absent from most critical mineral lists. However, coal is vital to Africa’s development as a continent and is needed to generate energy in areas of the world that hold many critical mineral deposits. Does this not make it critical to the energy transition?

Geopolitical tensions, supply-chain volatility, and domestic instability continue to reshape investor risk profiles. How can African markets insulate themselves from unpredictable geopolitical uncertainties while building resilience and sovereignty?

WHAT IF Africa’s untapped mining assets were anchored in the idea that mineral wealth is an untapped currency? Could this strategic re- positioning remove the exploration blocker that Africa is struggling with and enable mining companies, investors and governments to fast track the implementation of bold, strategic alliances to open up exploration investment?

Foreign powers including the US, Europe, China, and Middle Eastern players are racing to secure access to critical mineral supplies in Africa to safeguard the development of their own strategic industries - clean energy, defence, IT, etc. But will this process support the critical needs of African countries and communities for sustainable and just development – or will it end up entrenching the global and local inequalities and injustices of the past?

Mining companies are under growing pressure to deliver value not only to shareholders but also to the communities where they operate. Innovative financing models are emerging around the globe, from revenue-sharing agreements and blended finance partnerships to community bonds and equity stakes. This session will explore how miners, investors, and governments can reframe community engagement as an investment strategy rather than a compliance exercise.

New for 2026, the Partnership Spotlights will feature candid, high-level dialogues between CEOs and government ministers, offering a platform to share the latest developments, strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investment opportunities shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector. 

New for 2026, the Partnership Spotlights will feature candid, high-level dialogues between CEOs and government ministers, offering a platform to share the latest developments, strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investment opportunities shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector. 

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

The resurgence of resource nationalism and increasing export bans raise fundamental questions about ownership and value. Can governments balance supply-chain localisation with investment competitiveness, and can investors adapt to new models of shared prosperity?

Gabon is one of the world’s leading producers of high-grade manganese, a critical mineral in steel production and increasingly vital for battery technologies. As global demand rises, Gabon stands at a crossroads: can it move beyond extraction to build a value-added industrial ecosystem that benefits its economy and people? This session explores how strategic partnerships between government, private sector, and international stakeholders can help Gabon leverage its manganese reserves for long-term development. It will examine the role of infrastructure, policy reform, and technology transfer in creating a more resilient and diversified mining sector.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

Country Showcases are unique opportunities for the continents mining ministries to present their nation’s mining investment opportunities, policy updates, and major developments shaping their national mineral future.

Join industry leaders for a focused conversation on the evolving dynamics shaping the gold and silver markets. This session will unpack key macroeconomic drivers, price outlooks, investor sentiment, and shifting supply-demand fundamentals.

South Africa’s Olifants Management Model Programme (OMMP) demonstrates how shared responsibility between government, mining and industrial stakeholders can unlock infrastructure delivery by delivering successful water infrastructure across a water-deficient region. Could similar models provide a blueprint for the continent?

China’s approach to investing in Africa’s mining sector is undergoing a quiet transformation from high-profile, state-driven mega deals to more discreet, commercially structured investments led by private companies. This panel explores what this shift means for African governments and junior miners seeking capital. Can Chinese investment play a meaningful role in building regional value chains? What does a "future-proof" partnership with China look like in 2026? And is there real potential for trilateral collaboration between Chinese investors, African operators, and Western DFIs in an era of strategic competition?

Are mining’s ESG priorities evolving or diluting? WHAT IF mining’s ESG priorities – decarbonisation, inclusion and diversity – could be strategically positioned as equally important to shifting business strategies, global geopolitics and commodity price fluctuation? Gain insights into what it takes to keep sustainability and equity at the heart of mining’s uncertain economic future.

As mining assets accelerate and project timelines shrink, outdated permitting systems risk becoming bottlenecks. This session explores how digital platforms, AI-driven licensing workflows, and blockchain-backed transparency are transforming exploration access across Africa. It’s time to digitise the gatekeeping and unlock Africa’s mineral potential.

Those practising resource nationalism often seek to maximise revenue, stimulate industrial development and secure strategic control over strategic minerals. Often nations have much to gain during a commodity boom but are left in a weak bargaining position during a slump.When the world is looking for transition minerals, this can often scare foreign investors. Resource nationalism rebalancing traditional global trade partnerships; is it for the better of Africa?

Participate in an open dialogue discussion with industry peers about current trends, challenges, and opportunities in PGMs market. Expect to gain valuable insights into market forecasts, risk management strategies, and the impact of global economic factors on commodity prices.

Africa’s trade and mineral corridors are central to its integration story, but also vulnerable to global realignments. As partners recalibrate their investment strategies, which corridor models can secure long-term African ownership and sustainability?

With the continents recent political and economic shift towards gold security, this panel challenges old narratives to discuss if gold is the continents most underestimated critical mineral.
 

South Africa’s mining industry is navigating a period of significant legal evolution, from amendments to environmental legislation and the Mine Health and Safety Act, to proposed amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. WHAT IF mining communities could proactively adapt to changing regulatory environments? WHAT IF industry engagement and collaboration was the status quo? Legislative change would remain practical and investor-friendly while growth and development imperatives were still prioritised.

Haulage trucks are the backbone of mining logistics, but in an era of automation, electrification, and data-driven operations, they’re becoming much more than just heavy movers. This discussion explores the latest advancements in haulage truck technology. Mining companies are no longer going it alone; they’re co-developing solutions with OEMs. Learn how real-world collaborations are reshaping haulage operations across Africa.

Haulage trucks are the backbone of mining logistics, but in an era of automation, electrification, and data-driven operations, they’re becoming much more than just heavy movers. This discussion explores the latest advancements in haulage truck technology. Mining companies are no longer going it alone; they’re co-developing solutions with OEMs. Learn how real-world collaborations are reshaping haulage operations across Africa.

Junior mining companies pitch their Africa-located precious minerals projects that includes minerals like gold, silver and PGMs to a panel of elite decision-making investors 
 
Companies: 
15:00 - 15:05 Opening remarks 
15:05 – 15:15 Akobo Minerals - Jørgen Evjen 
15:20 - 15:30 Ignite Mining- Bez Owusu  
15:35 - 15:45 Company 3 
15:50 - 16:00 Company 4 
16:05 - 16:15 Company 5 
16:20 - 16:30 Company 6 
16:30 – 16:40 – Judges deliberate, and winner announced

New for 2026, the Partnership Spotlights will feature candid, high-level dialogues between CEOs and government ministers, offering a platform to share the latest developments, strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investment opportunities shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector. 

The panel will zero in on China's experience, shedding light on key aspects of its experience, successes and failures, and on what it means for Western governments, OEMs in key industries, their supply chains and the mining industry. The panel will include experts on these topics with granular knowledge to provide actionable insights for navigating the strategic materials competition that will define the next decade of global economic development.

WHAT IF mining companies actively collaborated to deliver transformative community projects – actively on the ground during life- of-mine operations but also by pooling cash towards legacy funding for post mine closure? Regional mining alliances could unlock larger, more strategic investments that go beyond individual efforts. By pooling resources, aligning goals, and coordinating action, these alliances could dramatically amplify the scale and sustainability of community benefits.

Challenges in governance and transparency continue to hinder progress on infrastructure delivery. How can transparency, digital tracking, and community oversight improve investor confidence and project outcomes?

Guinea holds some of the largest untapped high-grade iron ore reserves in the world, particularly in the Simandou range, a deposit that has long been seen as a game-changer for the global steel industry and for West Africa’s economic future. But unlocking this potential has proven complex, with decades of delays, geopolitical entanglements, infrastructure challenges, and shifting global demand. This session will examine lessons learnt, the power of partnerships, and what lessons can be extrapolated?

As mining ventures push deeper and face increasingly complex geology, the pressure is on – not to blast harder, but to blast smarter. This panel discussion explores how cutting-edge technologies are revolutionising blasting – from digital initiation systems and real-time fragmentation analytics to AI-driven blast design and environmental impact mitigation.

WHAT IF the real power of AI in mining lies not just in the technology, but in the partnerships that bring it to life? This session cuts through the hype to explore how miners and tech innovators are collaborating to turn AI potential into meaningful operational impact, not in the future, but today.

Africa’s energy challenge is no longer generation, but the transmission and distribution of electricity. Mining operations, industrial parks, and communities are constrained by the lack of grid connectivity. How can governments, utilities, and the private sector mobilise capital and policy reform to expand transmission capacity?

Minerals offer multi-generational development opportunities for the communities where they are mined, but has the balance of who carries that responsibility become too one-sided? If miners feel they shoulder too much of the development burden, will they lose interest in certain regions? Or should governments demand more value addition from industry?

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

From autonomous and robotic rigs and AI-powered targeting to low-impact drilling systems and real-time geodata analytics, these technologies are reshaping and fast tracking the discovery of new projects across the globe, and in Africa. This session explores how cutting-edge technologies are transforming exploration drilling into a high-precision and data-rich process.

A circular economy is undoubtedly better for the planet by reducing pressure on new extraction, but can it be good for people too? How can we avoid it "kicking away the ladder" for development in producing countries if the world's demand for primary metal falls?

As global portfolios shift, some majors are downsizing or exiting Africa. Is this a worrying trend, or the start of a new order that allows greater African ownership of mineral wealth? What does it mean for investment, competition and technology transfer?

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

Explore how 5G and fibre-optic technologies are transforming underground mining across Africa. From drone mapping and predictive maintenance to smart sensors and blockchain traceability, discover how connectivity is driving efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. Fit-for-purpose and future-ready, networks are redefining how Africa mines.

Exploration is vital for global mining future, but junior miners still face challenges in raising early-stage capital. This panel explores who’s funding exploration in 2026, how juniors are positioning themselves for success, and the role governments, particularly South Africa, are playing in incentivising discovery through new funds, incentives, and regulatory reforms.

Copper and cobalt are geological partners, yet above ground they are managed in silos. In Africa’s Copperbelt, where both are co- located, this fragmented approach undermines value capture, sustainability, and resilience. This session explores how partnerships across governments, industry, and civil society can integrate co-located resources for greater efficiency and fairness. Panellists will debate new models for collaboration and share lessons from cross- commodity and cross-jurisdiction experience offering bold ideas to shape Africa’s role in the future of critical minerals future.

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

New for 2026, the Partnership Spotlights will feature candid, high-level dialogues between CEOs and government ministers, offering a platform to share the latest developments, strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investment opportunities shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector. 

New for 2026, the Partnership Spotlights will feature candid, high-level dialogues between CEOs and government ministers, offering a platform to share the latest developments, strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investment opportunities shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector. 

As Western geopolitics and budgets pivot away from aid, a large funding vacuum has emerged. In the short term it’s painful, but could it also catalyse stronger intra-African collaboration and investment? 

As the global shift toward electrification accelerates, lithium has emerged as a cornerstone of the clean energy transition. From electric vehicles to large-scale battery storage, the race to secure sustainable and diversified lithium supply chains is intensifying. Join this focus session with industry peers to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the lithium market.

A critical examination of Mines Rescue Services South Africa's  deployment of the Mobile Rescue Winder (MRW) during the highly publicised Buffelsfontein mine incident in early 2025. The MRW, a revolutionary rescue technology designed and built in South Africa, was ultimately used to retrieve 324 individuals, both survivors and fatalities, dramatically speeding up the final phase of a controversial operation. Delve into the technology's capabilities and its development journey, enabling rescue and recovery work at depths of up to 3,200 meters. This case study will provide valuable insights into the profound impact of cutting-edge technology on emergency response capabilities while navigating the complex ethical challenges of modern mining disasters. 

Africa’s vast reserves of critical minerals position the continent as a key player in the global energy transition, yet it continues to struggle with the infrastructure needed to unlock full value. With infrastructural challenges including transport, energy and access to water, does Africa have a chance of realising its value addition dreams with the current infrastructural climate, and how can the power of partnerships help close the gap?

The industry is witnessing a strategic shift as gold and battery metal focused companies increasingly cross boundaries through M&A activity. This session looks at the drivers behind gold miners moving into battery metals such as copper and lithium, and reversely, how these miners are expanding into gold. Are these two metal suites what Africa is banking on in the short and medium-term future?

As Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman entering the global mining value chain, their capital is reshaping African deal flow. This panel will unpack what Gulf investors want, how they evaluate risk, and where African projects fit in their critical minerals’ strategies.

With volatility in traditional markets, investors are re-evaluating risk across the board. Does a more uncertain global environment make Africa’s growth story more compelling, or does it amplify existing concerns?

Partnerships are increasingly vital in the PGM sector due to complex value chains, evolving technologies, and shifting geopolitical and ESG dynamics. Historically, major automakers like Toyota and BMW secured long-term supply deals with miners to ensure access to materials. Today, linking miners directly with demand drivers offers benefits like price stability, innovation, and supply security. Partnerships can take various forms financial, equity-linked, or recycling-focused and involve OEMs, refiners, fabricators, and hydrogen tech firms such as Ballard and Hyundai. While challenges remain, government and industry support will be key to making these collaborations effective.

New projects mean new displacements, and resettlement has rarely been done well. How can governments and companies share responsibility for ensuring that communities are relocated ethically and benefit from long-term opportunity?

With shifting consumer trends, the rise of lab-grown alternatives, and tightening supply from major producers, the diamond market is navigating a pivotal transformation. This session will explore the evolving landscape of natural diamonds, price pressures, geopolitical influences on supply chains, and where future growth lies.

Crushing and milling are among the most energy-intensive stages in mining – but smart technologies are changing the game. This session examines how high-efficiency equipment, AI-driven process control, and sensor-based pre-concentration are cutting energy use and boosting performance. This incorporates renewable energy integration, modular systems, and strategic load shifting, which are helping miners reduce costs and emissions.

Africa is currently at the centre of a geopolitical scramble for transition minerals. It creates a once in a lifetime opportunity for the growth of Africa’s communities through long term value addition and investment into communities and infrastructure… However, this outcome is far from certain. There is a reality where the riches of Africa’s critical minerals end up in the hands of a small group of people, many of which are outside of Africa, and communities never see true beneficiation. This session explores the transformative potential of strategic partnerships in ensuring that Africa’s communities derive meaningful and lasting benefits from the continent’s vast reserves of critical minerals

Global traders and downstream giants are no longer just offtake deals - they’re taking equity stakes, co-developing assets, and anchoring new mining projects to secure supply and pricing stability. How to achieve the balance of being both a buyer and an investor without distorting markets.

Illicit ASM activity continues to drain value from Africa’s mineral economies and limit revenue mobilisation. Can formalisation coexist with large-scale mining, and are governments and regional bodies doing enough to enable it?

Mining’s most influential CEOs take the stage to share bold business strategies. These sessions offer a candid look at leadership decisions shaping the future, and progress, of mining.

WHAT IF the key to sustainable industrialisation lay not only in policy reform, but in co-creating value chains that serve domestic needs first? Explore how multi-stakeholder partnerships can unlock the full potential of domestic beneficiation by aligning the interests of governments, local mines, communities, and international partners – while developing not only downstream industries but skills and new job opportunities.

Battery mineral markets are complex and ever changing. In a world where technological advancement can make a mineral no longer needed for a battery and geopolitical volatility can cause nations to rethink the immediate needs of the next energy transition, how can you know what mineral to invest in, and does this pose an existential threat to Africa’s critical minerals market?

This session explores how advanced analytical techniques, rooted in machine learning, network theory, and stochastic modelling, are transforming mineral exploration across Africa. Showcasing GeoChemNet, a novel approach to visualising geochemical datasets through network analysis, enabling geologists to identify meaningful outliers and patterns that traditional methods often miss. Participants will also examine how stochastic interpolation of flightline data is reducing false positives in geophysical surveys, improving the accuracy of subsurface targeting and saving millions in exploration costs.

Junior mining companies pitch their Africa-located projects that include critical minerals like copper, REE, graphite and others to a panel of elite decision-making investors. 

Companies: 
15:00 - 15:05 Opening remarks 
15:05 – 15:15 Akora Resources – Peter Bird 
15:20 - 15:30 Prospect Resources – Sam Hosack 
15:35 - 15:45 EcoGraf – Andrew Spinks 
15:50 - 16:00 Company 4 
16:05 - 16:15 Company 5 
16:20 - 16:30 Company 6 
16:30 – 16:40 – Judges deliberate, and winner announced 

Building on the provocative question posed in Tuesday’s community-focused session – “What if mining companies actively collaborated to deliver transformative community projects?” – this session explores how that same spirit of collaboration can be applied to mine closure. 

WHAT IF coordinating action enabled mining companies to unlock larger, more strategic investments that amplify post-closure economies well beyond the life of the mine? This session will showcase how regional alliances can support post-mining economic transitions, fund legacy infrastructure, and deliver value to impacted communities.  

Since the beginning of the year, the term ‘tariff’ has sparked significant concern across the critical materials sector. Tariffs have completely changed the way international trade is conducted, upending many multi-decade long partnerships and re-writing how global trade is conducted. What has this done to the African critical minerals market, and can it be a positive?

New for 2026, the Partnership Spotlights will feature candid, high-level dialogues between CEOs and government ministers, offering a platform to share the latest developments, strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investment opportunities shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector. 

As global priorities shift and technology evolves, how can Africa future-proof its minerals strategy? What will It take for the continent to remain central to supply chains that are constantly reinventing themselves?

WHAT IF a blueprint model existed that would make Africa’s infrastructure scalable and financially viable, while still catalysing local economic growth. South Africa’s Olifants Management Model Programme (OMMP), spearheaded by the Badirammogo Water User Association, offers a compelling model for how public-private partnerships can deliver transformative infrastructure outcomes.

Learn how a unique governance and funding structure – a 50:50 collaboration between mining, industrial stakeholders and government – resulted in a financially viable model that can be adapted for regionalisation infrastructure opportunities across Africa.

This conversation begins with a look at AI-based prospect generation, where algorithms are now capable of synthesising geological data with economic viability, environmental constraints, and social impact models to identify targets that are not only rich in minerals but also feasible and responsible to develop.

In this hypothetical, we have just found a new deposit of a key critical mineral just outside of cape town. It is the job of you, the audience, to decide what we do next. How do we navigate governance, investment, geopolitics, local communities, the implementation of new tech and much more. Join our panel of experts to see where you have succeeded and what areas have been neglected.

Paths to leadership roles have traditionally been for those with engineering or accounting backgrounds. With an increased need for soft skills from outside the sector, there is now a different path to leadership. This session showcases a mining leader who has had an untraditional path to their position, showcasing the opportunities in the mining industry and the breath of skills that will be needed. 

The future employment landscape will undoubtedly be different to the employment market of today. With the widespread adoption of AI and automation, what skills should you be looking to invest into to future-proof your career in mining, and what role does mining have to play in the towering unemployment rate across Africa? Join employment experts from across the mining value chain to explore what you can be doing to future proof yourself for a long-term career in mining.

Mining has a huge impact on the environment around it, both from a nature perspective and a people perspective. Will you, Africa’s next generation of mining professionals, be able to make mining more sustainable where past generations have failed? Put your ideas to make mining more sustainable to our panel of experts who will discuss if your idea is lightning  in a bottle or a pipe dream with no feasibility. Join to have your say on Africa’s mining future.