Mining industry experts have called for stronger policies, increased investment in mineral exploration and long-term development strategies to unlock Africa’s vast natural resources and transform the continent into a major player in the global mining economy.
The experts made the call during a panel discussion at the Year of Return Africa (YORA) Summit & Expo 2026, held at Broadwalk Mall, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday.
Moderated by Shanel Wajera, representing the African Mining Chamber as Lead of Partnerships and Programmes, the discussion brought together industry professionals to examine the challenges preventing African countries from converting mineral deposits into commercially viable mining operations.
Among the panelists were Daniel Matimu, associated with investment readiness at the African Mining Chamber, and Stephen Kuria, who discussed his experience in the mining industry and Kenya’s mineral-sector governance.
Kuria, who said he previously chaired a Kenyan government minerals board, identified outdated regulatory frameworks, inadequate monitoring resources and the absence of sustained development planning as major obstacles to mining-sector growth.
“We can’t just keep working year to year,” Kuria said, advocating a long-term mining strategy capable of guiding investment, exploration and industrial development over several decades.
He argued that African countries should draw lessons from established mining economies such as Australia, Canada and South Africa, where strategic planning plays a significant role in developing mineral resources.
Matimu, meanwhile, stressed that owning land believed to contain valuable minerals does not automatically make it a commercially viable mining asset.
“Just because I own land doesn’t mean that that land has these minerals,” he explained.
According to him, investors require reliable geological information, exploration results and feasibility studies before committing substantial capital to mining projects.
“If it’s not drilled, if it’s not explored, that land is just any other piece of land,” Matimu added.
He noted that mineral exploration is capital-intensive but remains essential to establishing the commercial potential of mining properties, particularly in countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.
Other contributors raised concerns about limited access to technical expertise, inadequate investment preparation and the need to connect African small and medium-sized enterprises with credible funding opportunities.
The discussion also highlighted the increasing global demand for critical minerals used in renewable energy, battery technology, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
The panelists maintained that Africa must strengthen its regulatory institutions, improve geological exploration and develop investment-ready mining projects to secure greater economic benefits from its mineral wealth.
The session formed part of YORA Summit 2026’s wider agenda of promoting investment, innovation, industrial development and sustainable economic opportunities across Africa.
