In the fourth article of our Africa Energy series, Belén Satorre, Associate Director, ESG, asks if the African mining sector can deliver on its role in the energy transition without leaving local communities behind.
Mining has long been a cornerstone of Africa's economic development, providing employment and contributing significantly to national revenues. The impact of mining activities on local communities ranges from environmental degradation to health risks, social unrest, economic inequality, and threats to cultural heritage. This is reflected in the emergence of new corporate roles in the larger mining firms involved, focused on community engagement, resilience, and support.
However, there is still a gulf between corporate decision-making and the communities on the ground who bear the brunt of the impact. This dissonance is reflected in some of the mining industry’s largest gatherings too. Each year while the African Mining Indaba takes place, the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI), a yearly gathering of communities, civil society organisations, and faith-based groups worldwide discuss emerging issues for those communities impacted by mining activities.
This year's AMI is organised under the theme, ‘Energy transition for who? The critical question of our times!’. In the context of climate change, ‘Just Transition’ is a key tool to ensure that the shift towards a climate-neutral economy happens in a fair way, leaving no one behind. For African mining communities, this concept carries profound implications, given the sector's pivotal role in the continent's economy and its significant environmental and social footprint. As the world moves toward cleaner energy, addressing the Energy Transition’s unique challenges, from funding gaps to policy implementation, or mining legacy issues remains key to guaranteeing a ‘just’ transition for all, but especially those communities most affected.
Here we address four of the most significant issues challenging the notion of a just transition for Africa’s local mining communities: inequitable access to energy, environmental restoration, organised crime and social justice and inclusion.
Supporting an equitable access to energy
At the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), governments agreed to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, a successful transition to renewable, low-carbon energy requires significantly more minerals like copper, lithium, and nickel – all found in abundance in Africa. But, how can we ensure that essential mining activities are carried out with respect for and protection of their communities? For many African communities, the conversation around a just transition must address the critical issue of unequal access to energy. By 2030, an estimated 660 million people will still lack electricity, with 85% residing in Sub-Saharan Africa. This disparity has profound implications for mining communities, especially those in remote regions. Despite being surrounded by energy-intensive mining operations, they often lack even basic access to reliable electricity. Currently, the intermittent access or absence of electricity in these communities forces reliance on polluting and hazardous energy sources like diesel generators, kerosene lamps, and firewood. Artisanal miners often resort to these unsafe practices, such as burning fuel to extract minerals, which heightens health risks and environmental damage.
The cost of extending power infrastructure to remote areas is often prohibitively high for governments, which not only deters private investment, but also means that when it does come in, the focus will be purely on the mine operations themselves, rather than any surrounding community.’’
Several factors contribute to the uneven progress in energy access across Africa, including infrastructure limitations, financial constraints, and policy gaps. The cost of extending power infrastructure to remote areas is often prohibitively high for governments, which not only deters private investment, but also means that when it does come in, the focus will be purely on the mine operations themselves, rather than any surrounding community. Most existing power generation has been directed and financed by mining companies to supply their own operations. For example, the third phase of the DRC’s Inga Dam project is reportedly expected to generate 4,400 MW— but most of this will be used to power the copper mines and smelters in Haut-Katanga Province. Just a third of the power will be allocated to power nearby Kinshasa. This inequitable distribution of energy also perpetuates social inequalities in mining communities fostering resentment and social tensions, as communities feel burdened by the environmental and social costs of mining without receiving proportional benefits.
Delivering environmental restoration
Mining has traditionally caused extensive environmental harm, including deforestation, soil degradation, and water contamination. A just transition aims to mitigate these impacts through several strategies: rehabilitating mined lands and restoring ecosystems to promote agriculture, biodiversity, and water security; enforcing strict environmental regulations to prevent further damage from mining activities; and supporting community-led conservation initiatives that align with sustainable development goals. Much of this is still being led by government policy, where it exists, but there is a real need for mining companies to step up and start thinking about how they are going to restore natural environments long before minerals are first extracted, rather than waiting until later in the lifecycle of the mine.
Environmental restoration in Africa’s mining communities is set to be one of the big sustainability challenges for mining companies over the coming decades.”
In South Africa, thousands of abandoned mines pose environmental and safety risks. To address this, the government, through the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) launched programmes to rehabilitate these sites. The "Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Programme" focuses on sealing hazardous mine shafts, restoring vegetation, and managing acid mine drainage. In Mpumalanga, previously mined lands have been transformed into agricultural zones, providing new livelihoods for local communities. Other examples of rehabilitation programmes can be found in Zambia's Copperbelt region, where decades of copper mining have led to deforestation and soil degradation. Mining companies and NGOs have collaborated on reforestation initiatives to counteract these effects. Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), for example, implemented a reforestation programme that includes planting thousands of trees and educating local communities on sustainable land management practices. Mining in DRC has encroached on protected areas, going against the Congolese Mining code, in areas like the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. For eight years, a Chinese mining company has been vastly expanding inside the endangered World Heritage Site, accused by locals and conservationists of decimating the environment. According to a joint statement from the Wildlife Conservation Society and government agencies, between last January and May, the reserve lost more than 480 hectares (1,186 acres) of forest cover — the size of nearly 900 American football fields due to mining operations in the area.
Diamond mine open pit, panoramic view of the quarry layers, earth moving machines in the background, Botswana, Africa
Environmental restoration in Africa’s mining communities is set to be one of the big sustainability challenges for mining companies over the coming decades, but it will be absolutely critical to addressing the long-term consequences of resource extraction in the context of the Energy Transition. Some mines are starting to make progress in some regions, but the success and scalability of these initiatives will rely on adapting to very local communities and environments, and the future collaboration among governments, mining companies, NGOs, and local communities.
Addressing organised crime on artisanal and small-scale mining communities
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a vital economic activity for millions of people across Africa, providing employment and income for rural communities. However, the infiltration of organised or petty crime into the sector presents a complex challenge, particularly in the context of the energy transition.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is well renowned for this problem, where prolonged conflict has facilitated the widespread smuggling of copper and cobalt, and other minerals from illegal mining operations in the eastern and southern regions into neighbouring countries, where they are sold on global markets. These activities have been extensively documented by the United Nations, Global Witness, and other human rights organisations. Elsewhere, illegal miners in South Africa known as “zama zamas,” (in Zulu translating to “keep on trying,” or “to gamble”) are stealing the copper used in electrical wiring across multiple platinum mines, and which can be easily sold on the black market. Illegal miners have also been found illegally acquiring explosives, diesel, and other equipment from mines, and making illicit electricity connections from the mine’s own infrastructure. According to a report from South Africa’s Mining Council, any interruption of the mine’s electricity supply could affect the mine’s underground ventilation system putting at risk the mine workers operating in it. Without improved security, this will potentially hinder Government efforts to introduce renewable solar-powered mining tools or grid connections for fear they will be undermined by criminal groups. With targeted interventions— such as strengthening governance, promoting community-led energy projects, addressing the root causes of the illegal activities and improving security — these challenges can be mitigated, ensuring that small-scale mining communities are not left behind in the global shift toward sustainable energy.
Ensuring social justice and inclusion
A just transition emphasises social equity, aiming to ensure that the advantages of sustainable practices are distributed fairly and that marginalised groups are included. For African mining communities, this involves securing equitable compensation for land and resources used by mining companies while providing women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples with access to opportunities generated by the transition. Across the continent, several initiatives are advancing the fair distribution of resources, safeguarding workers' rights, and empowering underrepresented groups within mining communities. For instance, Ghana’s mining sector has introduced local content policies requiring companies to procure goods and services locally and to provide training for community members. Companies like Newmont Goldcorp have partnered with local enterprises to build capacity and encourage entrepreneurship.
Additionally, NGOs and mining corporations have launched programmes to train and employ women in technical and leadership roles. For example, Barrick Gold has implemented health, education, and mentorship initiatives benefiting communities such as those in the Copperbelt region. Tanzania has established Community Development Agreements (CDAs) to ensure mining companies contribute directly to local communities. At the Geita Gold Mine, AngloGold Ashanti has partnered with local stakeholders through a CDA to finance infrastructure, education, and healthcare projects, allocating a percentage of the mine’s revenue to these efforts.
By focusing on local employment, equitable benefit sharing, gender inclusion, and community empowerment, these efforts ensure mining communities are active participants and beneficiaries of resource extraction. But, too often, these programmes are launched by a single individual within the company, often with little decision-making power or budgetary support. The programmes suffer from under or short-term funding and a failure to integrate them fully into the corporate function of the mine. In other cases, mining operators may claim they are too small to take on the challenges facing local communities, or will be keen to be seen to be doing something, actively pursuing a position near to the back of the pack of their fellow operators in country, but crucially not at the back so as to avoid government, media, or reputational scrutiny. This race to the bottom is an ongoing trend we see in several African geographies.
A greater and more integrated corporate focus, as well as continued collaboration between governments, corporations, and local stakeholders are absolutely crucial to expanding on the current successes and addressing ongoing challenges.
The path forward
The road to a Just Energy Transition for African mining communities is fraught with challenges, but solutions are within reach with appropriate management. The key lies in scaling sustainable mining practices that prioritise environmental stewardship, fair compensation, health and safety standards. Governments and Corporates must forge genuine partnerships, involving and ensuring that mining communities benefit from this shift. This will require prioritising renewable energy access, fostering community participation in decision-making, and addressing the influence of organised crime. By equally aligning commercial goals with local development, Africa can shape its mining sector as a driver of both the global energy transition and regional prosperity, ensuring no community is left behind.
