Africa needs transparent and fair-trade practices for a just energy transition, said Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at an African Consultative Webinar on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and the UN Global Framework on Just Energy Transitions in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
He said that Africa needs to create a competitive mineral resources development environment which “allows it to ride the crest of mineral prices because technological developments, including those that create substitutes, are developing fast.”
“Among other strategies to enhance the domestic footprint of the Critical Energy Transition Minerals (CETMs) sector, African countries need to curb the export of unfinished mineral products through value addition and beneficiation to reap rewards at the higher end of the mineral value chains,” said Mr. Pedro.
The webinar was attended by officials and experts from governments, civil society and other stakeholders from the region.
Mr. Pedro noted the progress made by African countries to improve governance, but said challenges remain in many other areas such as taxation, value addition, and the strengthening of linkages. Furthermore, he said the exploitation of minerals poses multifaceted environmental, social and geopolitical challenges.
