African Mining Week to spotlight artisanal mining reform amid Africa’s US$ 8.5trn resource potential
The 2026 edition of the African Mining Week conference will showcase the role played by artisanal and small-scale miners to unlock the continent’s $8.5 trillion of untapped mineral resources
KAMPALA, April 15, 2026 — As Africa steps up efforts to formalise its artisanal and small-scale mining [ASM] sector, the upcoming African Mining Week [AMW] will highlight initiatives aimed at unlocking an estimated US$ 8.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources for inclusive economic growth.
Scheduled for October 14–16, 2026 in Cape Town, the event will bring together industry stakeholders to examine how formalisation is transforming the sector and strengthening Africa’s broader mining industry.
A dedicated panel, Accelerating the Formalisation of ASGM, will convene ASM operators, government regulators and investors to explore the sector’s role in driving sustainable growth.
Rising demand for critical minerals boosts ASM agenda
The ASM sector supports millions of livelihoods across the continent, prompting governments to accelerate reforms to harness Africa’s estimated 30 per cent share of global critical minerals.
In February 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC] signed an agreement with mining company ERG to empower ASM players in the cobalt sector. As the world’s leading cobalt supplier, formalising ASM operations is expected to boost employment and ensure mineral wealth delivers tangible socio-economic benefits.
Zambia is also advancing reforms as part of its strategy to raise copper output to three million tonnes by 2031. The Geological and Minerals Development Act of 2025 established a dedicated Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Fund to provide financial support to operators.
With global copper supplies forecast to tighten in the 2030s, analysts say formalising ASM could yield significant gains for Zambia’s mining sector.
Technology and policy driving gold sector integration
Gold-rich African countries are accelerating the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale gold mining [ASGM], aiming to increase output and capitalise on strong prices, expected to remain above US$ 5,000 per ounce throughout 2026.
Ghana, for instance, is implementing initiatives such as the Ghana Gold Board, the planetGOLD Ghana programme, and the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme to improve market access, enhance technical capacity and boost productivity.
These efforts follow a sharp rise in ASGM export revenues, from US$5 billion in 2024 to US$10 billion in 2025, underlining the sector’s growing economic importance.
Similarly, the DRC is taking steps to integrate ASGM players into formal supply chains. In March 2026, the country launched a gold refinery in Kalemie to purchase gold directly from artisanal miners and channel it into the formal market.
The government has also partnered with Phoenix Capital to roll out the ASGM Empowerment AXIS and GoldConnect programmes, which aim to provide financing and digital tools to support operations.
With a national target to export between 15 and 18 tonnes of gold in 2026, these measures are expected to ensure rising global demand translates into community-level benefits.
Global partnerships strengthen sector transformation
International organisations are also supporting Africa’s ASM transformation. The World Gold Council is working with countries including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia and Tanzania to deploy gold processing facilities that improve efficiency and promote responsible mining practices.
At the regional level, programmes such as the ACP–EU Development Minerals Programme, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, are advancing formalisation efforts across the continent.
The initiative has already committed €13.2 million in its first phase and €11.1 million in its second, with a further €9.2 million allocated under the current phase to support training, technical assistance and capacity building. It is being implemented in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Guinea and Zambia.
Against this backdrop, AMW 2026 is expected to serve as a key platform for showcasing the policies, investments and partnerships shaping the future of Africa’s artisanal mining sector.
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