Against this backdrop, the organizing team behind African Mining Week (AMW) scheduled for October 14–16, 2026 in Cape Town reached out to mining ministers and senior industry officials from across Africa to understand the national priorities shaping the continent’s mining future. The conversations revealed a clear and consistent message: African nations are done simply exporting raw materials. They want investment partners, not just buyers.
The DRC: A $24 Trillion Opportunity Waiting to Be Unlocked
The Democratic Republic of Congo may hold the most staggering untapped mineral wealth on earth, with an estimated $24 trillion in resources and roughly 90% of its mineral potential still unexplored. The government is pushing hard to develop its estimated 20 billion tons of iron ore reserves and establish special economic zones that will anchor domestic steel production and downstream industrialization.
