African National Mining Companies Forum
As competition for critical minerals intensifies, African governments are positioning national mining companies at the center of investment strategy, no longer state shareholders alone, but project developers, capital-raisers and drivers of domestic processing.
As competition for critical minerals intensifies, African governments are increasingly positioning national mining companies at the center of investment strategies. Rather than serving solely as state shareholders, national mining companies are increasingly leading project development, securing investment and supporting domestic mineral processing.
AMW 2026 brings these institutions face to face with the investors who can back them.
What the forum will explore
Structuring investment partnerships
How national mining companies can structure joint ventures and equity partnerships that make projects bankable for international investors.
Mobilizing capital
Accessing development finance, blended finance and capital markets to fund exploration, development and processing infrastructure..
State entities driving the next phase
From new national miners to expanded mandates for established state entities, governments across the continent are reshaping how they capture value from their resources.
West Africa - New national miners
Liberia is advancing a National Mining Company to unlock its iron ore and critical minerals potential, with roughly 80% of its geology still underexplored. Guinea has established the Nimba Mining Company under its Simandou 2040 strategy for iron ore and bauxite, while Mali is strengthening the Société de Patrimoine Minier du Mali across its gold and lithium industries.
East & Central Africa - Expanding state equity
Uganda's newly established national mining company will hold equity stakes of up to 15% in industrial projects spanning rare earths, graphite and gold. The DRC continues to expand the role of state-backed Entreprise Générale du Cobalt and Gécamines to capture more value from its critical minerals endowment.
Southern Africa - Capital & beneficiation
Zambia is leveraging ZCCM Investments Holdings to attract strategic investment toward a target of three million tons of annual copper production by 2031. Zimbabwe is using Kuvimba Mining House to accelerate development across gold, lithium and nickel assets while advancing national beneficiation goals.
Who Attends
Governments, mining companies, DFIs and global investors
| Government | Capital | Industry | Advisory |
| Ministers of mines & minerals |
DFI & export credit officers |
National mining company CEOs & MDs |
Legal & transaction counsel |
| National mining company board members |
Strategic & sovereign investors |
JV partner & major mining executives |
Mining policy institutes |
| State investment agency officials |
Project finance banks |
EPC & infrastructure contractors |
Geopolitical risk advisors |
| Regional economic community officials |
Private equity & royalty investors |
Beneficiation & processing operators |
ESG & governance consultants |