Mining and energy in Africa: a focus on infrastructure development

At the 31st Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, the World Bank, in partnership with the African Development Bank and other stakeholders, announced the launch of "Mission 300". This initiative aims to connect 300 million people to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

Access to electricity remains a major challenge for the continent, holding back economic development and industrialisation. Mission 300" is part of an overall strategy to modernise energy and mining infrastructures, which are essential to Africa's growth.

CNBC Africa's Fifi Peters spoke to Demetrios Papathanasiou, Global Director of the World Bank, who outlined the key strategies for achieving this ambitious goal. "We need to combine public and private investment, build local capacity and promote innovative solutions such as renewable energy," he said.

One of the major thrusts of Mission 300 is to exploit renewable energy sources, particularly solar, hydro and wind power, in order to diversify the energy mix. The decentralisation of energy systems, via mini-grids and off-grid solutions, is also envisaged to bring electricity to rural areas.

"Africa has considerable potential when it comes to renewable energy. By mobilising the necessary funding and putting in place appropriate regulatory frameworks, we can accelerate the pace of electrification", explained Papathanasiou.

The interconnection between the mining sector and electrification in Africa was a central topic at the Indaba discussions. The development of electrical infrastructure is crucial to maximising the value of mining resources and ensuring that raw materials are processed locally.

Mining operators are called upon to play an active role by investing in energy projects that benefit not only their operations, but also the surrounding communities. "Synergy between the mining industry and the energy sector is essential to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth", said Papathanasiou.

Mission 300" is based on a strong commitment from African governments, financial institutions and the private sector. Speakers at the Indaba unanimously agreed that cooperation and innovation will be key to achieving this ambitious goal.

By combining strategic investment, technology and political will, 'Mission 300' could transform the energy landscape of sub-Saharan Africa, opening up new economic opportunities and improving the quality of life for millions of people.