Appendix_9 _strategic_pillars_for_cmmssa

This document outlines the nine strategic pillars of the Critical Minerals Mission for Sustainable Strategic Advantage (CMMSSA), a framework designed to transform South Africa's critical minerals sector. The strategy focuses on moving from raw mineral exports to local beneficiation, enhancing geoscience mapping, improving infrastructure, and fostering regional integration within Southern Africa to support the global energy transition.

• The CMMSSA aims to revitalize greenfield exploration and geoscience mapping to attract investment and secure mineral supplies, addressing a 30-year period of limited exploration and a regulatory environment that is not competitive. Proposed interventions include streamlining licensing, creating a one-stop shop for prospecting rights, and expanding the Junior Exploration Fund.
• A central goal is to reduce South Africa's reliance on raw mineral exports by promoting local beneficiation and manufacturing, specifically targeting value chains for batteries, hydrogen, steel, mobility, and titanium. The strategy seeks to establish South Africa as a regional hub for battery manufacturing and mineral processing, including the assembly of lithium-ion and vanadium batteries.
• The strategy identifies critical gaps in research, development, and workforce skills, particularly in digital mining and battery technologies. To address this, the CMMSSA proposes national R&D hubs, a commercialisation fund for R&D outputs, and the creation of a Critical Minerals Testing & Certification Centre.
• Infrastructure and energy security are highlighted as major bottlenecks, with high energy costs and inadequate rail and port systems undermining competitiveness. The plan suggests fast-tracking Operation Vulindlela reforms and implementing water-less mining requirements to mitigate environmental risks.
• The CMMSSA emphasizes regional integration and a circular economy to enhance sustainability and competitiveness. This includes collaborating on SADC-wide cooperation agreements for battery hubs using nickel, graphite, cobalt, and PGMs, as well as investing in mineral recycling and carbon capture technologies for coal.

APA

Africa Policy Research Institute (n.d.). Appendix_9 _strategic_pillars_for_cmmssa. http://afripoli.org/uploads/publications/appendix_9_strategic_pillars_for_cmmssa.pdf

Chicago

Africa Policy Research Institute. Appendix_9 _strategic_pillars_for_cmmssa. n.d. http://afripoli.org/uploads/publications/appendix_9_strategic_pillars_for_cmmssa.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Africa Policy Research Institute |title=Appendix_9 _strategic_pillars_for_cmmssa |url=http://afripoli.org/uploads/publications/appendix_9_strategic_pillars_for_cmmssa.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{africapolicyresearchinstitutendappendix9, author = {{Africa Policy Research Institute}}, title = {{Appendix\_9 \_strategic\_pillars\_for\_cmmssa}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, url = {http://afripoli.org/uploads/publications/appendix_9_strategic_pillars_for_cmmssa.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }