Category
Policy news
Every policy story we've published, newest first.
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- 30 October 2026
Namibia leans on EU expertise to draft a critical minerals strategy
The European Commission has commissioned consultants to help Namibia draft a National Critical Raw Materials Strategy covering uranium, lithium and rare earths, as Windhoek balances competing EU and Chinese interest in its minerals.
Namibia and China sign nine deals covering uranium and lithium cooperation
Namibia and China signed nine cooperation agreements during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's state visit to Beijing in July 2026, including a green minerals agreement naming uranium, lithium and rare earths as strategic priorities.
Burkina Faso hands state miner a wholly-owned gold mine at Bouboulou
Burkina Faso has awarded an industrial mining permit for the Bouboulou gold project to a subsidiary of state miner SOPAMIB, with no private operator involved.
Mali sets up state gold agency OMASP to plug leaky export chain
Mali's transitional parliament has approved a law creating a new state agency, OMASP, to regulate and secure the sale of gold and other precious minerals amid huge estimated smuggling losses.
Mining Bill uncertainty clouds Sibanye's R2.7bn Burnstone gold project
Sibanye-Stillwater warned that the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Bill's lack of transitional provisions for past empowerment deals could complicate licensing at its R2.7bn Burnstone gold project.
Burkina Faso creates 'Siniyan-Sigui' sovereign mining fund
Burkina Faso's government has created a sovereign mining fund, Siniyan-Sigui, to channel surplus mineral revenue into industrial and infrastructure investment.
Guinea and EGA settle 18-month bauxite licence dispute
Guinea and Emirates Global Aluminium have settled an 18-month dispute over Guinea Alumina Corporation's bauxite licence, with Conakry paying a lump sum and taking over GAC's assets through a new state-backed company.
Senegal moves to seize control of phosphate giant ICS from Indorama
Senegal's government said it would take back the assets of phosphate producer ICS, ending Indorama Ventures' licence and alleging almost $1.88bn in lost state revenue over the concession's history.
Parliament gets Natjoints briefing on coordinated response to illegal mining
South Africa's mineral resources portfolio committee received an update from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure on measures to combat illegal mining, formalising a multi-agency policy response.
Mali creates Sopamim to centralise its stakes in mining companies
Mali's council of ministers has approved a new wholly state-owned company, Sopamim, to acquire and manage the government's shareholdings in mining companies.
Lawyers warn MPRDA bill's 'change of control' clause could paralyse mining deals
Legal analysis of South Africa's draft mining law amendments found the bill's ministerial consent requirement for changes of control was so broadly worded it could apply to routine JSE share trades.
Parliament briefed on new mining licensing system as delays persist
South Africa's Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources received a briefing on the implementation of the new mining licensing system, formally tracking a project that has already slipped several deadlines.
Barrick and Mali settle $430m dispute over Loulo-Gounkoto
Barrick Mining has agreed to pay Mali $430m to end a two-year row over the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex, with Bamako dropping criminal charges and freeing detained staff.
Pentagon cancels $500m cobalt stockpile tender in setback to US strategy
The US Defense Logistics Agency cancelled a tender for up to 7,500 tonnes of cobalt worth as much as $500m, its first attempt to buy the metal since 1990, citing unresolved issues with the contract's terms.
DRC lifts eight-month cobalt export ban, ushers in quota era
The Democratic Republic of Congo formally lifted its cobalt export ban on 16 October 2025, moving to a quota system after eight months of suspension that had roiled global battery-metal markets.
Anglo American's R600m pledge lifts junior mining fund to R1bn
The Junior Mining Exploration Fund grew to R1 billion after Anglo American added R600 million to government's R400 million, with applications opening on 30 September 2025.
Opinion: why South Africa must guard its own cobalt future with smart export rules
An industry opinion piece published as the DRC's cobalt quota system took shape argued that South Africa's own critical minerals strategy should introduce a 'balanced export strategy' limiting unprocessed cobalt exports.
DRC sets 96,600-tonne cobalt export ceiling for 2026 and 2027
Congo's regulator announced on 22 September 2025 that cobalt exports would be capped at 96,600 tonnes a year in 2026 and 2027, with 18,125 tonnes permitted for the rest of 2025.
Legal experts say ARECOMS had no power to suspend cobalt exports
A legal analysis published in August 2025 argued that ARECOMS lacked the statutory authority under DRC's Mining Code to suspend cobalt exports, exposing the state to potential liability claims.
SA's exploration spending collapse puts new junior mining fund to the test
The Junior Mining Exploration Fund has allocated its first R120 million to six projects, but data show South Africa's exploration spending has collapsed even as the sector's economic footprint stays large.
Mali completes takeover of Yatela and Morila mines abandoned by foreign owners
Mali says it has completed the takeover of the Yatela and Morila gold mines, abandoned years ago by their foreign owners, as part of its drive to reclaim control of natural resources.