1. New minerals framework favours African production

Minerals dug from African soil are to play a major role in the global green transition - and in the process could transform the continent's economy.

• Many materials at the heart of clean technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles and solar panels are found in Africa.

• But for the continent to win a transformative global market share, supply chains would have to undergo substantial change.

The news: An intergovernmental panel has now set the foundations for such change, giving Africa a boost. The International Energy Agency (IEA), mandated by governments around the world, has drawn up new guidelines for minerals production.

• During its first-ever critical minerals summit, the IEA issued recommendations for the diversification of minerals supply.

• This is likely to benefit African countries severely underrepresented in world markets.

What they say: The IEA, a Paris-based intergovernmental organisation established in 1974, unequivocally threw its weight beyond supply diversification, saying:

• “The level of over-concentration in critical minerals markets today is unlike that for any other major commodity we have come to rely on."

• "History has shown us that failing to properly diversify supplies and trade routes of essential resources comes with profound risks.”

• This is undoubtedly a western perspective. Many Africans have associated resources with exploitation. Yet it could nonetheless benefit the continent in future.

The opportunity: Beyond increasing production, Africa has the chance to boost its share of minerals processing to generate more jobs.

• Western governments signalled their support for increased African processing to counter China.

• In 2022, Chinese companies accounted for 68% of global cobalt refining, and 72% of global lithium refining.

Big leap: Large-scale minerals processing in Africa would be lucrative.

• According to projections for 2025, the battery raw minerals market is only worth $11 billion while battery precursors earn $271 billion and batteries $1.18 trillion.

• A battery precursor is a material at the final step before becoming a cathode.

• A study in 2021 suggested that a battery precursor plant in DRC would have 30% lower emissions, and cost 3x less than if in China and the US.

What’s needed: African minerals processing requires major investments. The first few taking shape are far from sufficient:

• Western governments are supporting a transport corridor for Zambia, Angola and DRC

• To boost skilled labour, DRC launched a centre for advanced battery research.

First results: Progress towards African minerals processing has so far been slow.

• Ghana started planning its first lithium processing facility.

• Afreximbank financed studies in DRC and Zambia for battery precursor plants.

• Marit Kitaw, interim director of the African Minerals Development Center, said, “We now need to attract the technology owners - not only offtakers - and organise a transfer of knowledge.”

Next: The sector now appears to be gaining momentum.

• South Africa will host a strategic minerals gathering.

• The IEA convenes ministers in February to further diversify minerals supply.

2. Duelling in the green desert

The long-standing rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates appears to be benefitting African climate goals.

The news: Saudis are this week hosting the UN-led Climate Week for the Middle East and North Africa, showcasing their latest green initiatives.

• Among the announcements is a new project for Saudi companies to buy carbon credits from 2024.

• While domestically focused for now, officials said the scheme "caters to the possibility or the potential for future international transfers."

• Saudi companies purchased African carbon credits at an auction in Nairobi in June.

The rival: Meanwhile, the Emiratis, who are hosting the COP 28 event in Dubai starting in late November, announced an expansion of their investment plans for Africa.

• Masdar, UAE's parastatal investment firm, committed $10 billion in African renewable energy by 2030.

• The target of the combined investments is to deliver 10 GW, or 7% of total current installed capacity.

• The UAE has declared an aim to provide 100 million Africans with clean electricity by 2035.

Competitive edge: Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the biggest populations and economies in the Gulf, are committed to net-zero by 2060 and 2050, respectively.

• At the Africa Climate Summit last month, Saudi Arabia was poised to announce substantial African investments.

• The announcement was pulled at the last minute but may be made at or after the Climate Week in Riyadh.

The context: The Saudi event is one of the last major international stepping stones to COP 28 in the climate calendar.

• Among the topics under discussion in the heavily cemented desert capital are the construction sector.

• Climate action focused on transportation and urbanisation are also on the agenda

3. Q&A: Climate leaders with answers

Oyugi Oloo-Aringo is the founder of Blue Economy Youth International as well as behind the Vijana Wajiweza Organization in Kenya

Q: What book do you recommend to grasp Africa's climate crisis? A: "Biopiracy" by Vandana Shiva, shedding light on patenting ecological materials and the climate crisis.

Q: What African country should outsiders visit to learn about climate? A: Kenya is experiencing intensified climate shocks, affecting food and water resources, with recent years showing dwindling rainfall and rising temperatures.

Q: What climate action have you taken recently? A: I led a tree-planting and waste management initiative in Kibera, known as "Penda Miti, Panda Miti." (Love trees, Plant trees)

Q: What is your earliest conscious memory of the climate crisis? A: I recall the El Nino floods in1997 — walls collapsing, cars destroyed.

Q: Who are your climate role models? A: Raphael Obonyo, a public policy analyst advocating youth involvement in climate action.

4. Media monitoring

• Tricky balance: The world must put adaptation at the centre of the climate agenda, says the COP 28 President, but it can’t unplug existing energy systems.

• Debt for climate: The AfDB head and other African leaders proclaim that tackling climate change depends on fixing Africa debts and call for an interest moratorium.

• Big number: Ghana wants to invest seven times its current GDP, or $550 billion, in a planned energy transition. That’s by 2060, mind you.

• Big tickets: Holland invests $300m in Ivorian climate infrastructure, while the AfDB and AGTF commit $124m for climate-resilient sanitation in Angola.

• IMF meetings: The World Bank approved a $1 billion African health emergency preparedness programme, while Morocco's central bank bought €200m in sustainable bonds from the World Bank.

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Thanks to the Green Rising team for putting this together.