Mining Indaba - Hon. Sen. Gbemisola Saraki

Hon. Sen. Gbemisola Saraki

Minister of State, Mines & Steel Development Federal Republic of Nigeria

Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki became an inspiring symbol of women and youth participation in active political leadership when she was elected first into Nigeria's National Assembly in 1999.

She was not only the youngest female legislator but arguably, her compelling but brilliant disposition, her experiences in private sector and her abiding passion for her nation were instructive in defining her brand of politics, which has always been anchored on People, Possibility, Patriotismand Prosperity.

Rising from the private sector, Senator Gbemi Saraki has an extensive background in the banking and mining sector of the economy. These background experiences are key leverages of her strategic insights into the mining sector, where her in-depth understanding of the banking functions plays a key role in driving strategic policies of revamping mining as a major contributor to our national development.

In 2019, Senator Gbemi Saraki was appointed the Honorable Minister of State, Transportation, where she was saddled with the responsibility for developing the road and marine transport sub-sector. This was her mandate until her redeployment in July, 2022 to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as the Honorable Minister of State. The Ministry, under the inspiring leadership of the Honorable Minister, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite, is responsible for transforming the critical development of mineral resources as well as recalibrating the roadmap of the mines and steel sector of the nation’s economy in order to facilitate and fast-track the strategic template of a sustainable economic growth and national productivity.

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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