African countries were determined to use the opportunity provided by the world’s need for the metals and minerals essential for the clean energy systems of the future to develop their economies through local beneficiation and the creation of value-adding industries. This was clearly signalled by Ministers of Mining from African countries, participating in a panel discussion during the Critical Minerals Africa conference, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on Wednesday. Malawi Mining Minister Monica Chang’anamuno pointed out that Africa had lost a lot opportunities in the past, because raw materials had simply been sent out from the continent. “We need to have finished products [made] within Africa,” she affirmed. In the case of Malawi, the country would like to collaborate with other African countries to achieve this. For example, metals mined in Malawi could be processed in refineries established in Tanzania.