The organisers of the DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum have announced the launch of a new, co-located event to this flagship annual gathering in Kolwezi, namely, the DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum.

“The successful 2025 edition of DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum reaffirmed that industrialisation is the key to transforming the DRC’s mineral wealth into sustainable prosperity,” says Samukelo Madlabane, Event Director, Mining Portfolio of the VUKA Group that organises several leading mining events on the continent.

“We received incredible engagement and collaboration from private and public sectors alike, and this reinforced the forum’s mission to accelerate the industrialisation of the DRC through value addition, beneficiation, and local participation in the global supply chain. We thank the Government of the DRC for its continued leadership and support in driving this national industrial vision.”

Heeding the call to action
He adds: “the event was truly transformative with leaders from mining houses, government, investors, and industry at large coming together with one shared vision; the forum concluded with a clear call to turn dialogue into action and partnerships into long-term impact. We are heeding this call by launching the DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum, providing that much-needed momentum to take this vision to the next level and to reality.”

He continues: “In particular, the DRC government is on an action-oriented drive to industrialise the country off the back of its mineral wealth and this Forum is the vehicle to do just that.”

The new Forum, which is to be co-located with the DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum in Kolwezi in October, will bring together mining companies, refiners, downstream manufacturers, investors, EPCs (engineering, procurement, construction), financiers, logistics, energy, telecoms, infrastructure, and government to accelerate DRC’s journey from mineral extraction to fully integrated industrial value chains.

Representatives from the following sectors will attend and contribute to the discussions:

• Mining and up-stream extraction
• Mineral processing and refining / Beneficiation
• Downstream manufacturing
• Energy and power infrastructure
• Transport and logistics (mining supply chains)
• Investment, financing, and funding / Project finance
• Policy, regulation, and government strategy / Local content and industrial policy
• Telecoms / Digital infrastructure and data
• Sustainability, ESG, community, and social impact / Workforce development

DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum
“We look forward to visionary, insightful, creative, and, most of all, practical hands-on discussions by esteemed industry pioneers and entrepreneurs in our new co-located Forum,” says Madlabane. “We thank the Government of the DRC for its continued leadership and support in driving this national industrial vision. Their endorsement played a key role in shaping the discussions and outcomes of last year’s event. We look forward to growing and shaping the journey along with the various national, regional, and global private and public sector stakeholders.”

Industry support
Last year’s DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum enjoyed the support of industry leaders such as Cominière S.A., Enabel DRC, Mining Engineering Services, Elephant Trade, ANAPI, Alfred H. Knight, Congo Astral Company, Elada Consulting, Equity BCDC, Glorhis Multi Services, Kamoa Copper, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, MMG Kinsevere, Morco Services, Temperature, Telluric Holdings Sarl and Trust Merchant Bank S.A.

DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum and DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum dates and venue:
Date: 7–9 October 2026
Location: Kolwezi, DRC

• SolarAfrica reaches financial close on SunCentral 2, unlocking the next 114 MW of its utility solar development that will have a total 1 GW at full scale.
• The R1.5 billion investment, provided by FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) and Investec Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Institutional Banking Division), fast-tracks the delivery of reliable, cost-effective clean energy to SA businesses, with first power expected in 2026.
• The project strengthens the national grid through continued investment in SunCentral’s Main Transmission Substation.

SolarAfrica (https://SolarAfrica.com) has secured financial close on R1.5 billion to build SunCentral 2, the next 114 MW plant of its flagship utility-scale solar development in the Northern Cape. The new funding, provided by RMB and Investec Bank Limited, is another significant step in boosting access to affordable and clean energy for South African businesses, with first power expected in 2026.

SunCentral 2 will follow SunCentral 1, which reached financial close at the end of 2024, also at 114 MW. Together with SunCentral 3, these projects form Phase 1 of the broader SunCentral vision, totalling 342 MW. At full scale, SunCentral is planned to reach 1 GW, positioning it as one of the country’s largest solar initiatives designed specifically for one-to-many, bilateral wheeling.

David McDonald, CEO at SolarAfrica, says: “Businesses want power they can trust – clean, affordable and predictable – and SunCentral is being built exactly for that purpose. It’s encouraging to see the confidence from our funding partners as we move into the next stage of delivery.

“More than a big solar project, SunCentral is a long-term infrastructure investment that gives companies the ability to manage their costs, cut emissions, and reduce their reliance on utility power that is often vulnerable to unpredictable tariff hikes. This next step gets us closer to bringing that value to even more South African businesses.”

As with the first plant, SunCentral 2 includes dedicated community-upliftment initiatives, ensuring local residents share in the social and economic benefits created by the project. Job creation, education, local procurement and skills development will continue to form a core part of the programme, supporting economic activity around the site in partnership with the project’s principal contractors.

SunCentral is also a key pillar of SolarAfrica’s overall wheeling pipeline – totalling 3 GW – which is currently under development across the country. By combining utility-scale renewable generation with a more flexible delivery via wheeling, SolarAfrica is helping companies access greener energy without the upfront capital outlay traditionally associated with on-site solar systems.

A portion of funding from each SunCentral plant is allocated directly to the development of the project’s Main Transmission Substation (MTS). Engineered for up to 2 GW of green-power evacuation capacity, the MTS strengthens the national grid while enabling future renewable generation to connect more efficiently.

“With wheeling, we have a model that puts control back into the hands of commercial and industrial customers. Instead of just surviving tariff hikes, it allows companies to plan for growth with a cleaner, more dependable energy mix,” says McDonald.

Hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Zimbabwe, and organised by VUKA Group, in partnership with founding partner Nzuri Communications, Zimbabwe Mining Week will take place from 17–19 November 2026 at Rainbow Towers Hotel & Conference Venue, Harare.

The platform is established as the official national meeting place for government, mining companies, investors, financiers and solution providers committed to unlocking Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth through processing, industrialisation, energy integration and sustainable value- added economic development.

Zimbabwe Mining Week is designed to move the mining conversation beyond extraction and exports, and towards ecosystem-led growth — addressing the full mining value chain including local processing and refining, downstream industrialisation, rising energy demand, infrastructure enablement, ESG integration and long-term economic resilience.

Zimbabwe is one of Africa’s most geologically endowed mining jurisdictions, with resources spanning gold, PGMs, lithium, chrome, nickel, coal and industrial minerals, and mining contributing approximately 13% of national GDP. Against a backdrop of policy reform, global re- engagement and accelerating demand for battery and critical minerals, the country is entering a decisive phase in aligning its mineral endowment with national development outcomes.

Endorsing the launch, Honourable Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Zimbabwe, Dr Polite Kambamura, said:

“The launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week is a critical step in positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive global mining destination. By bringing together decision-makers, investors and operators, this platform supports transparency, policy consistency and sustainable investment, while helping translate our mineral wealth into inclusive growth, job creation and long-term national development.”

Speaking on the strategic intent behind the platform, Tichaona Mawoni, CEO of Nzuri Communications and Founding Partner of Zimbabwe Mining Week, said:

“The launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week is a strategic move to place Zimbabwe at the centre of the global critical minerals dialogue. As founding partners with VUKA Group, we have created a world-class platform that stands alongside its sister summits in the DRC and Nigeria.

Zimbabwe is moving beyond the outdated narrative of simply extracting resources. Our focus is on building a robust mining ecosystem that prioritises domestic processing, industrialisation and value addition, ensuring the real benefits of our mineral wealth are retained within our borders.

By convening global investors and policy leaders, we are not just discussing the future — we are architecting it. Zimbabwe holds the resources essential to the green energy transition, and we are positioning the country not just to participate, but to lead.”

Commenting on the launch, David Ashdown, CEO of VUKA Group, said:

“We have long recognised Zimbabwe’s exceptional mining potential, alongside opportunities across other strategic industry verticals, and its capacity to ignite sustainable economic growth. VUKA Group’s purpose is to connect Africa to the world’s best to influence sustainable progress, and Zimbabwe Mining Week reflects that ambition in action.

With the support of the Ministry, our founding partners, and VUKA Group’s portfolio of award- winning conference and media platforms, we are confident in our ability to connect people and organisations to information — and to each other — in ways that drive investment, enable industrialisation and unlock long-term opportunity for Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabwe Mining Week will deliver unparalleled access to policymakers, project developers, investors and international partners, providing a platform where policy meets capital, processing meets power, and mineral wealth is translated into sustainable economic value.

More information is available at www.ZimMiningWeek.com.