Africa50 recently welcomed the African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) as its 38th shareholder. What does this strategic partnership involve?

The partnership reflects our strategy to diversify our investor base and mobilize more African institutional capital for infrastructure. Africa Re brings strong expertise in risk assessment, a pan-African footprint and a shared commitment to financing infrastructure that drives economic transformation. African pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurers hold around $2.4 trillion in assets, projected to reach $6.4 trillion by 2040, yet less than 2% is invested in infrastructure. We want to create investment models that African institutions can support at scale.

What key trends are you currently observing across Africa's mining value chain, and how are these shaping both your existing portfolio and your approach to future project finance?

Infrastructure has become the defining factor in unlocking Africa's critical minerals opportunity. Countries are prioritizing local processing and regional value chains, but these ambitions depend on reliable power, transport and integrated economic corridors. Although Africa holds around 30% of the world's proven critical mineral reserves, including 55% of cobalt and 47.65% of manganese, its share of global exploration spending has declined from 16% in 2004 to 10.4% in 2024. Closing this gap requires investment in both mining and enabling infrastructure.

What has been the biggest bottleneck in deploying capital into mining-adjacent infrastructure?

The biggest challenge is the shortage of bankable projects. Around 80% of African infrastructure projects fail during the preparation stage, limiting investment opportunities. Risk perception also remains a challenge. African infrastructure debt defaults average just 5.5%, among the lowest globally, yet projects continue to face higher borrowing costs.

Mining infrastructure tied to a single operation also inherits commodity price risk. Structuring rail, power and logistics assets as multi-user infrastructure improves bankability but requires stronger project preparation. That is why Africa50 invests in feasibility studies, environmental approvals, government agreements and commercial structuring to bring projects to financial close.

How is Africa50 leveraging its infrastructure portfolio to help address energy and transport infrastructure shortages disrupting mining operations?

More than 30% of African mines rely on diesel or heavy fuel oil because of unreliable grid power, while annual energy investment must exceed $190 billion between 2026 and 2030 to support industrialization. Weak transport infrastructure also raises mining costs, with many rail corridors underutilized or underfunded.

Africa50 leverages its experience developing gas, hydro, wind and solar IPPs to structure bankable mining-linked power projects. Mines are highly creditworthy offtakers that can anchor generation assets while supplying surrounding industries and communities.

On transport, Africa50 supports asset recycling through long-term concessions that attract private capital to modernize rail and port infrastructure. We also work with governments to address regulatory barriers such as cross-border tariffs, concession frameworks and offtake arrangements.

What are Africa50's proudest milestones regarding infrastructure reach and impact across the continent so far?

In just over a decade, we have delivered 33 projects across 32 countries, representing more than $8 billion in project value, while achieving initial exits at a 10% IRR, demonstrating that African infrastructure can generate competitive returns alongside strong development impact.

Key milestones include Africa's first non-recourse green project bond refinancing the 1.5 GW Benban Solar portfolio in Egypt, Kenya's first Independent Power Transmission PPP, the Senegambia Bridge asset recycling transaction, and the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, which has mobilized more than $300 million from 24 institutional investors, including 22 African investors. Other flagship projects include the 20,000-km East2West fibre network, the Taiba N'Diaye Wind Farm in Senegal and Kigali Innovation City.

What is Africa50's key message for African Mining Week 2026?

Africa's critical minerals opportunity depends on enabling infrastructure. Power, transport and logistics must be developed as integrated, multi-user assets that support industrial development beyond individual mining operations.

African capital should play a leading role in financing the region’s own infrastructure. Partnerships between governments, mining companies, infrastructure developers, DFIs and institutional investors are crucial to unlock Africa's full mining potential.