WiM-Africa Calls for Stronger African Role in Mineral Pricing

Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa), represented by Executive Director Dr Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, called for stronger African participation in global minerals pricing during a roundtable at the Shanghai Metals Expo 2026. Asokoro-Ogaji highlighted Africa's rich mineral resources, including copper, cobalt, lithium, and gold, yet noted the continent's limited influence over their commercial value.

She stressed that mere possession of these resources does not guarantee market power, citing challenges such as inadequate access to market information and financial systems. Asokoro-Ogaji identified five priorities for African producers: enhancing mineral market intelligence, investing in mineral testing and standardization, expanding beneficiation and processing, improving access to commodity markets and finance, and ensuring inclusive participation in the mining value chain.

She emphasized the necessity for credible information on mineral production and trading conditions to negotiate effectively and cautioned that pricing power requires more than declarations, urging improvements in product quality and bargaining positions.