Mineral processing in Africa: electricity shortage closes dozens of smelters
African mineral-processing projects face electricity shortages and high power prices as governments offer tax incentives and mining rights while restricting raw-material exports to push local processing. Guinea plans five alumina refineries by 2030 with total capacity of 7–8 million tonnes a year, three of them under construction, and South Africa's operating ferrochrome smelters have fallen to fewer than 12 of 66 as electricity costs rose about tenfold since 2008. International and African financing institutions are seeking to support mineral-processing projects across the continent.
Why it matters: It highlights energy as a binding constraint on Africa's efforts to expand mineral processing and attract investment.