How can African states benefit from the EU Critical Raw Material Act and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy

This policy brief analyzes the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy (CMS), evaluating their potential to support African industrialization. It argues that both frameworks are primarily driven by domestic energy and economic priorities, focusing on reducing dependency on China and mitigating geopolitical risks. The author contends that current capital allocations and the emphasis on domestic processing capacity are insufficient to attract private investment for African value addition and beneficiation, suggesting a need for a shift in political and commercial relations to align with African industrialization goals.

• The EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), adopted in December 2023, sets specific self-sufficiency targets for 2030: 10% for domestic mining and extraction, 40% for processing and refining, and 15% for recycled sources.
• The EU and UK strategies are characterized as less interventionist than the state-led model of China or the subsidies provided by the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The EU's approach focuses on reducing market entry barriers rather than providing comprehensive subsidies.
• There is a misalignment between Western and African definitions of 'criticality'. While Western nations focus on national economic needs and the green transition, African states determine criticality based on global demand and regional industrialization. For example, South Africa views coal as strategically important, and Zambia included gold and gemstones in its critical minerals declaration in September 2023.
• The EU's Global Gateway is the primary funding vehicle for developing critical mineral supply chains, with a projected global investment of up to EUR 300 billion, including EUR 150 billion for Africa. However, the document notes that no African mining projects have received funding to date.
• The EU utilizes bilateral partnerships to secure raw materials and green energy, having established agreements with Namibia in 2022, and with the DRC and Zambia in 2023. The UK has bilateral partnerships with South Africa and Zambia.
• The African Union (AU) is developing its own Green Mineral Strategy (GMS), rooted in the African Mining Vision (AMV), which emphasizes regional cooperation, industrialization, and beneficiation. It was expected to be reviewed by a technocratic committee in May 2024.
• The EU's focus on 'responsible sourcing' and high Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) norms may create competitive disadvantages for African countries due to high compliance costs. In contrast, the UK's CMS identifies ESG criteria as a 'competitive disadvantage'.

APA

Vandome, C. (2024). How can African states benefit from the EU Critical Raw Material Act and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/how-can-african-states-benefit-from-the-eu-critical-raw-material-act-and-the-uk-critical-minerals-strategy

Chicago

Vandome, Christopher. How can African states benefit from the EU Critical Raw Material Act and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2024. https://afripoli.org/how-can-african-states-benefit-from-the-eu-critical-raw-material-act-and-the-uk-critical-minerals-strategy.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Vandome |first1=Christopher |title=How can African states benefit from the EU Critical Raw Material Act and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=11 September 2024 |url=https://afripoli.org/how-can-african-states-benefit-from-the-eu-critical-raw-material-act-and-the-uk-critical-minerals-strategy |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vandome2024how, author = {Vandome, Christopher}, title = {{How can African states benefit from the EU Critical Raw Material Act and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://afripoli.org/how-can-african-states-benefit-from-the-eu-critical-raw-material-act-and-the-uk-critical-minerals-strategy}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }