Driving sustainable investment in African Mining

Dr. Yanchen Wang

MD SMM Global UK

Dr Yanchen Wang is the managing director of SMM Global UK office, which was established in May 2021 and a subsidiary of Shanghai Metals Market. Currently He focuses on the base metals market research and SMM overseas business development. Dr Yanchen Wang is a well-known analyst in the global commodity industry. His areas of expertise include base metals, battery metals, coal and power industry, carbon emission market. Dr Yanchen Wang has more than 20 years commodity market research experience. He has visited more than 100 base metals assets around the world, including DRC, Guinea and Morocco. He also often attends technical, and market conferences and gives presentations as a key-note speaker. Before joining SMM, he was the principal analyst at CRU aluminium team. Dr Yanchen Wang had worked at CRU for 15 years. Yanchen has a PhD in Engineering from Chinese Academy of Sciences.


2026 Agenda Sessions

China’s investment shift – what it means for African mining projects

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?

Tuesday 10 February 13:15 - 14:00 River Nile Stage (CTICC1 - Ground Floor - Investment Village)

Add to calendar 02/10/2026 13:15 02/10/2026 14:00 China’s investment shift – what it means for African mining projects

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?

River Nile Stage (CTICC1 - Ground Floor - Investment Village) Africa/Johannesburg