China’s Green Energy Drive Hinges on Africa’s Minerals, but Barriers Mount

Africa’s vast troves of minerals essential to the global energy transition offer a rich foundation for deepened cooperation with China. Yet, this promise is tempered by systemic challenges including rising resource nationalism and intensifying geopolitical competition, according to a report released Tuesday.

Jointly published by the Institute of Energy at Peking University and the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, the report underscores the complementary nature of the relationship: Africa holds much of the world’s reserves of key transition minerals — cobalt, copper, lithium, and platinum-group metals — while China is one of their largest global consumers.