Mozambique is among the group of countries benefiting from a new €15 million regional project launched by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), aimed at strengthening critical mineral value chains in an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive manner in the SADC region, the Engineering News website reported on Wednesday, June 3.
According to the outlet, the five-year initiative (2026–2031) was officially launched in Lusaka, Zambia, on June 2, and also involves the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, in addition to Mozambique.
The project aims to accelerate green industrialization in the region by promoting the local processing of mineral resources, creating jobs, and strengthening environmental protection, against a backdrop of growing global demand for minerals linked to the energy transition.
According to ECA Regional Director for Southern Africa, Eunice Kamwendo, “the initiative builds on ongoing efforts to strengthen value creation, responsible mining practices, and greater inclusion in strategic mineral supply chains.”
She emphasized that countries in the region should leverage their comparative advantages to move away from exporting primarily raw materials and begin producing goods with higher added value.
Kamwendo also highlighted the strategic importance of Southern Africa in the global context of the energy transition, noting the potential of minerals such as lithium, graphite, uranium, manganese, and platinum—resources found in abundance in countries like Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
The regional director added that, “although the mining sector already accounts for between 7% and 25% of Gross Domestic Product in several SADC countries, a large portion of exports continues to be in raw or semi-processed form, limiting economic gains for the countries.”
The project is aligned with continental and regional strategies, including the African Mining Vision, the African Green Minerals Strategy, and the SADC development framework for the extractive sector.
Speaking on behalf of Zambia’s Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Permanent Secretary Douty Chibamba stated that the initiative comes at a pivotal moment, given the rising demand for critical minerals driven by the global energy transition, electric mobility, and the expansion of clean energy systems.
He argued that “the region now has the opportunity to position itself not only as a supplier of raw materials, but as a hub for industrialization, innovation, and the creation of decent jobs.”
Douty Chibamba emphasized, however, that this potential must be harnessed responsibly, through strengthened environmental governance, greater transparency, community engagement, and the development of local content.
Hapenga Kabeta, Permanent Secretary of Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development, also noted that Southern Africa is uniquely positioned to play a central role in the global energy transition, given its wealth of strategic mineral resources.
He cautioned, however, about persistent challenges, such as weak local processing capacity, gaps in environmental, social, and corporate governance, and the need for greater participation by women and youth in the sector.
The project will be implemented by a consortium led by ECA, involving institutions such as the African Centre for Mining Development, research organizations, German technical partners, and international environmental organizations, including WWF Germany.
In the case of Mozambique, the initiative is seen as an opportunity to strengthen the country’s integration into regional critical minerals supply chains, promoting greater value added, industrial diversification, and the strengthening of the green economy within the SADC context.
