• UK unveils £50M plan to secure critical minerals supply by 2035
  
  
• Strategy includes partnerships abroad, with focus on Africa's mineral potential
  
  
• UK urged to align with African goals, avoid exploitative practices in sourcing

The British government unveiled a £50 million (about $65.4 million) plan on Saturday, November 22, to secure the country’s supply of critical minerals by 2035. The strategy prioritizes boosting domestic production and processing capacity and stresses the need to continue “forging partnerships with resource-rich countries.”

This approach is likely to draw close attention in Africa, where the United Kingdom has been quietly shaping a diplomacy agenda centered on critical minerals.

UK Interest in African Critical Minerals

The plan is expected to rely on British expertise in academia, research and development, finance, and trade in order to unlock new opportunities abroad. Although Africa was not mentioned explicitly, the continent is already involved in earlier British initiatives related to critical minerals.

A House of Commons document published in March 2024 described a £900,000 project launched in October 2023 to identify bankable opportunities for mineral processing in Africa. The project is funded by Official Development Assistance and aims to provide technical assistance to partner countries on the continent and help them attract investment.

The same document notes that the government plans to refocus the “Manufacturing Africa” program on activities related to downstream mineral processing. This program supports companies seeking investment and has already helped facilitate 28 transactions with a combined value of more than £314 million in Africa.

British ambitions also appear in the close examination of potential partnerships. Policy statements published in October highlighted the benefits of working with countries such as Tanzania and Zambia. A briefing related to Tanzania noted that the country’s future graphite production alone could be “six times greater than British demand.”

UK Steps Up Regional Race for Critical Minerals

These developments reflect a stronger British interest in Africa’s mineral potential. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the continent holds nearly 30 percent of global reserves of critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, graphite, lithium, and rare earth elements. This geological wealth is attracting growing attention as major powers try to secure their supply chains.

If current projects advance more rapidly, the United Kingdom could improve its position in a competitive landscape dominated by China, the global leader in critical minerals, and increasingly influenced by the United States. Future British initiatives aimed at securing overseas supply sources will reveal how central Africa is to this strategy.

Aligning With African Priorities

Observers emphasize that the success of this strategy depends on respecting the expectations of African countries. In May, The Guardian quoted civil society activists calling on British leaders to avoid exploitative practices during the global competition for critical minerals.

“To have a chance at success, the green transition cannot be built on the exploitation of poorer countries by unaccountable corporations. That is why the UK government must seize the opportunity to set out a new approach in its upcoming critical minerals strategy,” said Cleodie Rickard of Global Justice Now, according to the British Daily.

This position reflects the priorities of African governments that are seeking to move beyond the traditional role of raw-material exporters and become industrial actors in global value chains. An analysis by the CSEP think tank on India’s growing engagement in African critical minerals also highlights the need to support the creation of regional industrial networks that align with the continent’s development goals.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou