African Leaders Demand Local Processing of Minerals

African leaders called for foreign mining companies to process minerals locally rather than export raw materials. The push comes as demand for critical metals rises amid competition between the United States and China. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu told the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali that his government would no longer accept the existing model.

“No one can take any metal out of Nigeria without adding value,” he said. Gabon’s president criticized mining arrangements that he said leave limited visibility over earnings from the country’s resources. Gabon is the world’s second-largest manganese producer.

The government has ordered operators to begin domestic processing by 2029 or risk losing concessions.

Abuja plans to establish at least two Chinese-built lithium processing plants. Libreville has set the 2029 deadline for local processing. The statements reflect a broader effort across Africa to increase benefits from refining and manufacturing. Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame told the forum a day earlier that Africans should stop accepting deal terms set outside the continent.

“We can’t just be people waiting to be ripped off,” Kagame said. Gabon’s president instructed the country’s oil minister to raise output to take advantage of higher prices. Gabon produces about 227,000 barrels a day. Nigeria has larger potential upside from higher prices but faces infrastructure bottlenecks.

The $20 billion Dangote Refinery has not fully met domestic fuel demand.