Namibia is emerging as one of Africa’s busiest exploration frontiers after receiving more than 800 new licence applications as investors accelerate efforts to expand mineral production pipelines on the back of a surge in global demand for critical minerals.
According to Namibia’s Mining Commissioner Isabella Chirchir, the southern African country is reforming its licensing system to speed up approvals and attract more investment.
Chirchir said “Namibia is rolling out digital platforms to clear backlogs and improve regulatory efficiency, with more than 600 environmental applications pending alongside the 800‑plus new exploration bids”.
Namibia already holds 588 active prospecting licences and is positioning itself to expand beyond uranium and diamonds into a broader critical‑minerals hub.
According to organisers of the upcoming African Mining Week, Namibia is among several African governments pushing greenfield exploration to drive industrial growth, create jobs and diversify economies long dependent on raw mineral exports.
South Africa awarded 358 new prospecting rights last year as it seeks to sustain its dominance in platinum group metals and boost output in gold, iron ore, chrome and manganese.
“In 2025, the country awarded 358 new prospecting rights and 32 mining rights, signalling a significant step toward unlocking mineral resources and supporting long-term production growth,” the organisers said on Tuesday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government also allocated R2 billion (about $124 million) to support small-scale miners last year and is targeting R2 trillion in investment across the critical minerals sector, including unlocking vast untapped iron ore deposits.
Ghana, Africa’s top gold producer, has more than 90 active exploration projects and has attracted over US$20 billion in mining investment in the past two years.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah‑Kofi Buah said the country is pushing for new discoveries in bauxite, manganese, iron ore, cobalt and nickel to support the global energy transition.
Other African producers are also intensifying exploration.
Zambia is expanding copper projects to reach its target of 3 million tonnes of annual output by 2031, while Guinea is advancing work around the US$20 billion Simandou iron ore project, the world’s largest untapped deposit.
The scramble for new reserves comes as demand for minerals essential to clean energy technologies is projected to quadruple by 2040, while gold and other traditional commodities hit record prices.
The continent’s exploration momentum will take centre stage at African Mining Week in Cape Town from 14–16 October where governments and investors will showcase new projects and strategies to unlock Africa’s mineral wealth.
AP