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Africa produces more than 60 metal and mineral products and is a major producer of several of the worlds most important minerals and metals including Gold, PGEs, Diamonds, Uranium, Manganese, Chromium, Nickel, Bauxite and Cobalt. It is interesting to note that Africa's contribution to the world's major metals (copper, lead and zinc) is less than 7%. As a result silver production is low (less than 3% of the world's production) due to the fact that most silver is produced as a by product of lead - zinc and copper mining. Although underexplored, Africa hosts about 30% of the planet's mineral reserves, including 40% of gold, 60% cobalt and 90% of the world's PGM reserves - making it a truly strategic producer of these precious metals.
The increase in exploration and mine development in Africa has been primarily focussed on gold and diamond exploration. Undoubtedly, there is still great scope for these commodities, but riding on the back of improving base metal prices, this sector could see an increase in activities. Mozambique, Nigeria and Madagascar are but a few countries that have tremendous potential for base metal and industrial mineral deposits.
South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia and the DRC dominate the African Mining industry, whilst countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana rely heavily on the mining industry as a major foreign currency earner. Unfortunately, several African civil wars are funded by (and often caused by) some of these commodities, in particular diamonds.
Major new mines opening in Africa or under development are distributed between South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, and Gabon producing gold, diamonds, niobium products, PGEs, chrome and base metals. Major discoveries over the last year include the discovery of several potentially diamondiferous kimberlites in Mauritania, and still in the diamond scene, the potential marine deposits in offshore southern Namibia.
World Production (2009): | 187 Mt |
Production by country: | South Africa |
Major companies: | Metorex |
Key uses: | Flame retardants, semi conductors |
World Production (2009): | 201 Mt |
Production by country: | Guinea |
Major companies: | CBG, Rio Tinto Alcan |
Key uses: | Aluminium production |
World Production (2009): | 23 000 Mt |
Production by country: | South Africa (9 600) |
Major companies: | Samancor, Assmang |
Key uses: | Stainless steel production, superalloys |
World Production (2008): | 5845 Mt |
Production by country: | South Africa (236 Mt) |
Major companies: | Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton |
Key uses: | Energy generation |
World Production (2009): | 62 000 t |
Production by country: | DRC (25 000 t), Zambia (2 500 t), Morocco (1 600 t) |
Major companies: | Gecamines, Norilsk Nickel |
Key uses: | Metal alloys |
World Production (2009): | 15.8 Mt |
Production by country: | Zambia (0.655 Mt) |
Major companies: | ZCCM |
Key uses: | Electrical applications, construction |
World Production (2008): | 168.0 Mct |
Value US$ (2007): | $ 13 billion |
Production by country: | South Africa, Botswana |
Major companies: | De Beers |
Key uses: | Jewellery, abrasives |
World Production (2009): | 2 350 t |
Production by country: | South Africa (210 t), Ghana (85 t) |
Major companies: | AngloGold, Newmont |
Key uses: | Jewellery, Investments |
World Production (2009): | 2 300 Mt |
Production by country: | South Africa (53 Mt), Mauritania (11 Mt) |
Major companies: | Kumba Iron Ore, SNIM |
Key uses: | Steel industry |
World Production (2009): | 3.90 Mt |
Production by country: | South Africa (0.05 Mt) |
Major companies: | Rio Tinto |
Key uses: | Motor vehicle batteries, chemical |
World Production (2009): | 9.60 Mt |
Production by country: | South Africa (1.30 Mt), Gabon (0.81 Mt) |
Major companies: | Samancor, Assmang |
Key uses: | Ferroalloys |
World Production (2009): | 200 000 t |
Production by country: | No production in 2009. |
Key uses: | FerroAlloys |
World Production (2009): | 1 430 000 t |
Production by country: | Botswana (36 000 t), South Africa (34 000 t) |
Major companies: | Norilsk Nickel |
Key uses: | Stainless steel, batteries, fuel cells |
World Production (2009): | 195 000 kg |
Production by country: | South Africa (79 000 kg), Zimbabwe (4 800 kg) |
Major companies: | Anglo Platinum, Impala Platinum and Wesizwe |
Key uses: | Motor vehicle catalysts, electronic |
World Production (2009): | 158 Mt |
Production by country: | Morocco and Western Sahara (24 Mt), Tunisia (7 Mt), Egypt (3.3 Mt), South Africa (2.3 Mt), Togo (0.8 Mt), Senegal (0.7 Mt) |
Major companies: | OCP |
Key uses: | Fertiliser applications |
World Production (2009): | 178 000 kg |
Production by country: | South Africa (140 000 kg), Zimbabwe (6 000 kg) |
Major companies: | Anglo Platinum, Impala Platinum and Wesizwe |
Key uses: | Motor vehicle catalysts, jewellery |
World Production (2009): | 21 400 t |
Production by country: | Minimal production in Africa |
Key uses: | Electronics, photographic, jewellery |
World Production (2009): | 1 160 t |
Production by country: | DRC (100 t), Rwanda (100 t) |
Major companies: | Mostly state owned |
Key uses: | Electronic components; alloys |
World Production (2009): | 307 000 t (Primary and Secondary sources) |
Production by country: | DRC (12 000 t) |
Major companies: | State owned |
Key uses: | Packaging, alloys |
World Production (2000): | 5 720 Mt (Ilmenite and Rutile) |
Production by country: | South Africa (1 100 Mt), Mozambique (206 Mt), Madagascar (60 Mt), Sierra Leone (60 Mt) |
Major companies: | BHP Billiton, Anglo American, Exxaro Resources |
Key uses: | Pigments and alloys |
World Production (2009): | 58 000 t (concentrate) |
Production by country: | No major production |
Key uses: | FerroAlloys, filaments |
World Production (2008): | 43 853 tU |
Production by country: | Namibia (4 366 tU), Niger (3 032 tU), South Africa (655 tU) |
Major companies: | Areva Resources |
Key uses: | Power generation, medical |
World Production (2009): | 54.0 Mt (Vanadium pentoxide) |
Production by country: | South Africa (19.0 Mt), |
Major companies: | Highveld Steel and Vanadium |
Key uses: | FerroAlloys |
World Production (2009): | 11 100 Mt |
Production by country: | No major production |
Major companies: | Rio Tinto |
Key uses: | Galvanising, alloys |
World Production (2009): | 1 230 Mt |
Production by country: | South Africa (0.395 Mt), |
Major companies: | Exxaro |
Key uses: | Foundry applications, alloys |