African countries rich in minerals like Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda and Nigeria are accelerating the digitisation of their mining licensing processes to attract investment and maximise resource exploitation for economic growth.
This bold move, set to be a centerpiece at the upcoming African Mining Week, promises to turbocharge investment, streamline operations and unlock the continentโs vast underground treasures for a world hungry for resources.
Zambia is leading the charge with its newly minted Zambia Integrated Mining Information System, launched in February 2025. The digital platform is already turning heads, positioning the country as a prime destination for mining investors. With copper production targets soaring to 3.1 million metric tons by 2031, Zambiaโs ambitions are backed by a staggering $9.3 billion in mining investments in 2024 aloneโa record-breaking haul. The system has also fueled a 79% spike in permits issued last year, signaling a red-hot market thatโs catching global attention. โThis is about making Zambia a mining powerhouse,โ a government official said, hinting at the transformative potential of the platform.
South Africa, a titan in gold production, isnโt far behind. By June 2025, the country will roll out its first digital mining licensing system, a game-changer aimed at reviving investor interest and diversifying into platinum group metals. Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum Gwede Mantashe hailed the move as a leap toward transparency and efficiency. โWeโre cutting the red tape thatโs held us back,โ Mantashe declared, promising a faster track for new projects to break ground.
Tanzania, meanwhile, is tapping into the global frenzy for lithium, graphite, and rare earth minerals with its own licensing overhaul. Aziza Swedi, Acting Director of the Tanzania Mining Commission, revealed that 54,626 licenses have been issued over the past seven years through November 2024. The countryโs new digital system is poised to accelerate that pace, positioning Tanzania as a key player in the green energy supply chain. โThe world needs what we have, and weโre making it easier to get,โ Swedi said.
Rwandaโs Inkomane Digital platform, launched in October 2024, is another standout. Connecting mining firms, traders, and regulators, itโs a one-stop shop for compliance, payroll, and monitoring. Companies like Aterian are already reaping the benefits, streamlining their operations in a sector critical to Rwandaโs economy. Nigeria, too, is in on the action with its Mineral Resources Decision Support System, unveiled in May 2024. Offering geological data and permit applications at investorsโ fingertips, itโs a siren call to those eyeing the countryโs untapped solid mineral reserves.
This digital wave will take center stage at African Mining Week, held alongside the African Energy Week conference from October 1-3, 2025, in Cape Town. The event will showcase investment-ready mining blocks and spotlight how these platforms are rewriting the rules of resource extraction. โAfricaโs mineral wealth is no secret, but these tools are the key to unlocking it,โ said an organizer from Energy Capital & Power, the eventโs host.
As the continent embraces this high-tech transformation, the stakes couldnโt be higher. With billions in investment on the line and global demand for minerals skyrocketing, Africaโs digital mining revolution is more than a trendโitโs a tectonic shift that could redefine the regionโs economic future.