Planet Today Africa Station
Mapping Africa's Natural Resources (Planet Africa Today)
Beneath The surface of Africa lies a wealth of mineral resources of enormous value. In 2019, the continent produced nearly 1 billion tonnes of minerals worth up to $406 billion.
According to data released by the United Nations, Africa has 30% of the world's mineral reserves, 12% of oil reserves, and 8% of natural gas reserves.
The continent also holds 40% of the world's gold, up to 90% chromium and platinum – two precious metals.
The world of minerals in mobile phones
Most of the electronics we use today rely on minerals ranging from aluminum to zinc.
In 2021, about 1.5 billion smartphones will be sold worldwide, up from 122 million units in 2007. As of 2020, nearly four-fifths of the world's population (about 78%) will own a smartphone.
In mobile phones, more than half of the components — including electronic components, displays, batteries and speakers — are made from mined mineral materials and semi-processed materials.
Natural Resources: The World of Minerals in Your Phone
Fuselage: aluminum, tantalum
Glass screen: potassium, silicon dioxide
Circuit panel: copper, tan
Batteries: lithium, mammoth, nickel, cobalt, graphite
Integrated screen: tin, bauxite
Speakers & Microphones: Sphalerite, Cerium (Planet Africa Today)
Lithium and cobalt are important metals for the production of batteries. In 2019, nearly 63% of global cobalt production came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Tantalum is another metal used in electronic devices. Tantalum capacitors are widely used in mobile phones, notebook computers and various types of automotive electronics. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda are the world's largest producers of tantalum, producing half of the world's tantalum.
Every African country has a top-ranked mineral
Of the 54 countries in Africa, 22 have the most abundant oil and coal reserves. As of 2019, Nigeria produces most of the continent's oil (about 25%), followed by Angola (about 17%) and Algeria (about 16%).
Metals, including gold, iron, titanium, zinc and copper, are the most produced minerals in 11 African countries. Ghana is the largest gold producer on the African continent, followed by South Africa and Mali.
Industrial minerals such as diamonds, gypsum, salt, sulphur and phosphate are the main commodities in 13 African countries. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the largest producer of industrial diamonds in Africa, followed by Botswana and South Africa. Botswana has the largest production of gem-quality diamonds in Africa.
Natural resources: Every African country has a top-ranked mineral
Each African country is rich in mineral resources, including copper, tantalum, zinc, iron, gold, bauxite, diamonds, salt, gypsum, sulfur, phosphate, oil, etc. (Planet Africa Today)
Mineral wealth
With $125 billion in revenue per year, South Africa derives the largest portion of its revenue from its mineral resources. Nigeria ranks second with an annual revenue of $53 billion, followed by Algeria ($39 billion), Angola ($32 billion) and Libya ($27 billion).
The five countries produce more than two-thirds of the continent's mineral wealth.
Natural Resources: Africa's top producer of minerals
South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Angola and Libya produce more than two-thirds of the continent's mineral wealth.
In terms of mineral revenues other than diamonds, South Africa ranked first with $124.963 billion, followed by Nigeria at $53.678 billion, Algeria at $38.699 billion, Angola at $32.042 billion, Libya at $27.027 billion, Egypt at $232.25, Ghana at $14.97 billion, the Democratic Republic of the Congo at $13.688 billion, Gabon at $10.92 billion, Zimbabwe at $9.767 billion (Planet Africa Today)
Minerals in the world
According to data released by the World Mining Congress (pdf), nearly 17.9 billion tonnes of minerals were mined worldwide in 2019.
Asia is the largest producer, accounting for 59% of global production, worth $1.8 trillion. North America came in second with 16 percent, followed by Europe with a total of 7 percent.
Africa produces about 5.5% of the global total of minerals and is worth about $406 billion.
Natural resources: world mineral production
The data is from the World Mining Data Overview in 2021 released by the World Mining Congress (WMC), which only expresses production, not reserves, and does not include diamond production.