Cape town: Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) will lead a delegation of senior executives to the African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, scheduled for October 14-16 in Cape Town, to emphasize its dedication to mobilizing capital for Africa’s mining, mineral processing, and infrastructure development.
According to African Press Organization, Franklin Edochie, Deputy Director and Head of Metals and Mining, is set to deliver a keynote address focusing on AFC’s investment strategy. His address will shed light on the institution’s influence in Africa’s mining sector and the financing methods being employed to enhance mineral production and support local beneficiation.
Investment Associate Ahmed Bello-Maccido is scheduled to participate in a panel titled “Regional Connectivity: Financing Africa’s Mineral Infrastructure.” The panel will assess how investments in critical infrastructure such as rail, ports, and roads can connect mineral-rich regions with both domestic and international markets while facilitating regional trade and value addition.
Molebogeng Mazibuko, Associate Vice President and Mining Lead, will contribute to discussions on “Enabling Africa’s Value Addition Corridors.” Her presentation will explore how dependable energy and logistics infrastructure can bolster mineral processing hubs and industrial corridors throughout the continent. Additionally, she will present on “Partnering with AFC to Unlock Africa’s Mining Potential,” focusing on partnership and financing frameworks that can assist mining stakeholders in mobilizing capital for the development and processing of Africa’s mineral resources.
AFC’s involvement at AMW 2026 coincides with its expanding role in financing projects aimed at advancing African economies beyond mere exportation of raw minerals towards increased processing, manufacturing, and industrial development.
In Nigeria, AFC has collaborated with the Solid Minerals Development Fund to develop a $1.3 billion alumina refinery, initiate a nationwide geoscience mapping program, and create a strategic investment vehicle to expedite mineral exploration and development. The refinery is projected to produce up to one million tonnes of alumina annually, while the geoscience program is designed to enhance the understanding and commercialization of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Infrastructure development remains a crucial aspect of AFC’s strategy to unlock mineral development. The institution has secured financial closure on the $753 million Lobito Corridor Railway Project, by mobilizing funds from entities such as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. This project will facilitate the rehabilitation, upgrade, and long-term operation of the 1,300-kilometer rail corridor linking Angola’s Port of Lobito to the DRC border, thereby strengthening regional connectivity and linking mineral-producing areas in the DRC and Zambia with Angola’s Atlantic coast and international markets.
AFC’s mining portfolio encompasses various commodities and markets across the continent. Recent transactions include a $330 million senior debt financing package for the Baomahun Gold Project in Sierra Leone, a $240 million loan for KEFI’s Tulu Kapi Gold Project in Ethiopia, and a $220 million investment in Lucara’s Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. Furthermore, the institution’s $244 million investment in Nouvelle Gabon Mining is facilitating the development of manganese deposits in Franceville and Okondja.
Collectively, these investments demonstrate AFC’s strategy of integrating project finance, structured capital, infrastructure investment, and strategic partnerships to address the financial and infrastructure challenges facing Africa’s mining industry. At AMW 2026, AFC executives will share these insights with governments, mining companies, investors, and infrastructure developers aiming to transform Africa’s mineral wealth into productive investment, local value addition, and broader economic growth.