Rare Earth Rush

South Africa Awards $955M Solar Portfolio, Cementing Regional Renewables Leadership

Nigeria Approves $4.29B PPP Infrastructure Megadeals

Nigeria's Federal Executive Council has approved three transformative PPP projects worth N6.43tn ($4.29bn), including the $2.27bn Bakassi Deep Seaport, $1.14bn Port of Ondo Deep Seaport, and $878.1m Katsina-Ala 460MW Hydropower Plant. All projects are fully financed by private investors, representing the second major batch approved in December and bringing 2025 approvals to over 13 projects under President Tinubu's infrastructure push.

These greenfield maritime and energy assets offer high-yield opportunities through user fees and long-term concessions, addressing Nigeria's $100bn annual infrastructure deficit. The Bakassi and Ondo seaports will create Free Trade Zones and decongest existing ports, while the hydropower plant adds critical renewable baseload capacity to the national grid.

Pensana Secures $100M for Angola Rare Earths Amid Supply Chain Shift

Pensana PLC has secured a $100 million equity investment to advance its Longonjo rare earths project in Angola, positioning the company as a key non-Chinese supplier targeting 2027 commercial production. The project, one of the world's largest undeveloped rare earth deposits, will produce materials for over 10,000 tonnes of permanent magnets annually amid U.S. bans on Chinese rare earths in defense systems and impending tariffs.

Africa is emerging as a critical rare earths hub, potentially supplying 9-10% of global output by 2029-2030. Angola ranks as Africa's second-most improved mining jurisdiction, with the Longonjo project benefiting from $1.7 billion in Lobito Corridor investments and support from the Angolan Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Military-Led Sahel States Launch $895M Investment Bank

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have launched the BCID-AES regional investment bank with $895M initial capital to fund infrastructure, energy, and agriculture projects, leveraging their mineral wealth for financial autonomy post-ECOWAS withdrawal.

EBRD Makes First Sub-Saharan Investment in Benin Electrification

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development committed €30 million to Benin's rural electrification program, connecting 120,000 households across 750 villages and marking EBRD's entry into sub-Saharan Africa infrastructure financing.

Chinese Solar Panel Imports to Africa Surge 60% to 15GW

African imports of Chinese solar panels jumped 60% to approximately 15 GW in the 12 months to June 2025, with 20 countries setting new import records, accelerating renewable energy deployment while highlighting supply chain concentration risks.