In an interview at African Mining Week in Cape Town last week, Arya described copper as a “game-changing opportunity” for Africa to attract new investment, driven by rising global demand linked to technological advancement.

“Copper is the foundation for AI and is essential for many other applications. This creates significant opportunities for investors, particularly in Zambia and the DRC, which also holds vast cobalt resources,” said Arya.

Other trends shaping Africa’s mining outlook include regulatory reforms, a stronger focus on local beneficiation, regional cooperation on energy and transport infrastructure and the adoption of AI to streamline exploration, Arya noted.

He also forecast an increase in British investment across Africa’s mining sector, spurred by ongoing regulatory reforms in the UK designed to facilitate company expansion into African markets.

“There is growing competition – not only among companies entering Africa but also among African countries themselves – over how they build relationships. The U.S. administration is also intensifying its focus on Africa’s critical minerals for both energy and defense, as it diversifies away from China.”

He emphasized that one of the biggest challenges for Africa’s mineral-rich countries will be deciding where to focus their efforts, given the wide range of mineral prospects available.