Mining Indaba - Charles Afeku

Charles Afeku

Advisor to the Director ALSF

Charles is the advisor to the Director/CEO of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) based in Abidjan.

Charles is a lawyer with extensive experience in the natural resources and extractives sector. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ghana in 2002 and was called to the Ghana Bar in 2004. He also completed studies for an Advanced Professional Training Certificate at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPLMP) of the University of Dundee and holds a Master of Laws in Natural Resources and Environmental Law and Policy from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law.

His contributions to initiatives in the extractives sector include the IBA’s Model Mining Development Agreement, the International Study Group’s Report on Minerals and Africa’s Development, and the ALSF’s Africa Mining Legislation Atlas Guiding Template.

Agenda Sessions

Minerals and the Energy Transition: Strategies and Investment Prospects for Africa

Africa’s significant green minerals including lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese and Rare Earth Elements are part of the core enablers of the transport revolution towards low-carbon economic development. The growing demand for electric vehicles and battery storage facilities is driving the demand for these minerals, especially Lithium and Cobalt. This has pushed their processed product prices to astronomical levels and could be a game changer in the economic development of countries endowed with deposits of these minerals. For example, lithium carbonate prices have increased over 10x since 2021. Also, the demand for battery and technology minerals is estimated to increase 500% by 2050 to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies.

For Africa to seize opportunities in the battery and EV sector, this will require funding both in the backward (exploration, mining, services) and forward (e.g., battery and EV manufacturing) linkages development. And this is far beyond what public resources could provide. Private sector, particularly African private sector, investments will be essential for the continent to climb up the ladder in these important value chains.

This side event seeks to identify and analyse the key success factors that will enable Africa strategise to attract investment into the BEV sector towards optimising benefits from the value chain.

Tuesday 07 February 14:00 - 16:00 Level 1 Stage

Special Content

Add to calendar 02/07/2023 14:00 02/07/2023 16:00 Minerals and the Energy Transition: Strategies and Investment Prospects for Africa Africa’s significant green minerals including lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese and Rare Earth Elements are part of the core enablers of the transport revolution towards low-carbon economic development. The growing demand for electric vehicles and battery storage facilities is driving the demand for these minerals, especially Lithium and Cobalt. This has pushed their processed product prices to astronomical levels and could be a game changer in the economic development of countries endowed with deposits of these minerals. For example, lithium carbonate prices have increased over 10x since 2021. Also, the demand for battery and technology minerals is estimated to increase 500% by 2050 to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies.

For Africa to seize opportunities in the battery and EV sector, this will require funding both in the backward (exploration, mining, services) and forward (e.g., battery and EV manufacturing) linkages development. And this is far beyond what public resources could provide. Private sector, particularly African private sector, investments will be essential for the continent to climb up the ladder in these important value chains.

This side event seeks to identify and analyse the key success factors that will enable Africa strategise to attract investment into the BEV sector towards optimising benefits from the value chain. Level 1 Stage Europe/London

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