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Onshoring the production and processing of minerals critical for the energy transition can both reduce global volume of minerals required and decarbonise global supply chains, while driving local manufacturing and economic development on the African continent. The session explores how this revolution can also be accompanied by investment in recycling and remanufacturing, particularly for renewable energy equipment and infrastructure. The discussion showcases the economic potential of green industrialisation in Africa, emphasising job creation, revenue generation and substantial reductions in global emissions.
Jack Kimani is the founder of CAP-A, a novel platform of initiatives focusing on climate action opportunities as drivers of economic growth in Africa. He has over 20 years’ corporate finance and development experience working across sub-Saharan Africa, North America and South-East Asia for major multinational organisations. While traveling regularly across the globe, Kimani has mainly been based in Malawi, Rwanda and Kenya for significant periods. He holds an economics degree and is an MBA graduate from the University of Wisconsin.
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South Africa’s role in the energy transition and circular economy opportunities
Kgauta Mokoena
Chief Director, Chemicals and Waste Policy, Specialist Monitoring Services
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South Africa
Kgauta Mokoena works at AfDB’s department of forestry, fisheries and the environment. Previously he worked as director of mine environmental research and sustainable development. He is a member of the Minerals and Petroleum Board and chair of the working group on built environment at the Africa Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA). Mokoena is a circular economy expert who participated in the circular economy mission in Europe led by the South African Presidency in 2019. He holds a BSc in environmental hydrology and soil science and a bachelor of laws (LLB) from the University of South Africa and a masters’ of social science in policy and development studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He also represents South Africa as the co-chair of ACEA and is a member of PAGE and Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Economy (GACERE).
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Seizing the opportunity for locating green industry in Africa and reducing overall exploitation
Jack Kimani
CEO
Climate Action Platform – Africa (CAP-A)
Jack Kimani is the founder of CAP-A, a novel platform of initiatives focusing on climate action opportunities as drivers of economic growth in Africa. He has over 20 years’ corporate finance and development experience working across sub-Saharan Africa, North America and South-East Asia for major multinational organisations. While traveling regularly across the globe, Kimani has mainly been based in Malawi, Rwanda and Kenya for significant periods. He holds an economics degree and is an MBA graduate from the University of Wisconsin.
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Onshoring the processing of critical minerals in Africa: Benefits, finances, trade-offs and barriers
Davinah Milenge Uwella
Principal Programme Coordinator
African Development Bank (AfDB)
Davinah coordinates several initiatives on climate change within the Climate Change and Green Growth Department of the bank, including the secretariat for the Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF). Other initiatives include: the Africa Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Hub, a platform hosted at AfDB to support African countries implement their Paris Agreement climate commitments; and the secretariat of the African Financial Alliance on Climate Change (AFAC), an initiative launched by AfDB to mobilise, catalyse and leverage domestic climate finance. Davinah also manages portfolio due diligence for the bank’s green bonds programme. She holds an MA in economics from University of Manchester, UK.
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Harsen Nyambe
Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy
African Union Commission (AUC)
Prior to his current position, Harsen Nyambe served as head of division responsible for environment, climate change, water, biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, forestry, land management, meteorology and wildlife. He has 25 years’ professional experience of which 18 years has been in international organisations. Before joining the AUC, he served the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as a senior programme manager responsible for natural resources and the Commonwealth Secretariat as head of climate change. Nyambe has also worked for the government of the Republic of Namibia as a deputy director in the ministry of environment and tourism and in the ministry of agriculture, water and forestry. Furthermore, he was also head of the National Remote Sensing Centre of Namibia and prior to that a lecturer for environmental impact assessment and ecology at the University of Namibia. His passion lies in fostering sustainable natural resources management and building resilience to environmental shocks.
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Eddy Kioni
Chief Executive Officer
Buenassa
Eddy Kioni is the CEO of a newly established innovative integrated metals trading company in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), dedicated to enhancing the global supply chains of critical minerals through value-added services. At the forefront of Buenassa's ambitious endeavours is a pioneering project: the establishment of a climate-smart mining-oriented copper and cobalt refinery, aligning with the DRC's goals for mineral beneficiation and sustainable socio-economic development. His leadership is pivotal in driving Buenassa towards impactful contributions to the mineral sector. Eddy's extensive experience spans both the private and public sectors, as he has also held influential consultancy roles and management positions in government ministries and state-controlled companies.
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Elisa Tonda
Chief, Resources and Markets Branch
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Elisa Tonda works for the industry and economy division of UNEP. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the field of environmental management, business sustainability, resource efficiency, sustainable consumption and production, the circular economy and sustainable development. She began her career in the private sector as an environmental expert and then held several positions in UN organisations.
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Jack Kimani
CEO
Climate Action Platform – Africa (CAP-A)
Jack Kimani is the founder of CAP-A, a novel platform of initiatives focusing on climate action opportunities as drivers of economic growth in Africa. He has over 20 years’ corporate finance and development experience working across sub-Saharan Africa, North America and South-East Asia for major multinational organisations. While traveling regularly across the globe, Kimani has mainly been based in Malawi, Rwanda and Kenya for significant periods. He holds an economics degree and is an MBA graduate from the University of Wisconsin.
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Closing remarks
Jack Kimani
CEO
Climate Action Platform – Africa (CAP-A)
Jack Kimani is the founder of CAP-A, a novel platform of initiatives focusing on climate action opportunities as drivers of economic growth in Africa. He has over 20 years’ corporate finance and development experience working across sub-Saharan Africa, North America and South-East Asia for major multinational organisations. While traveling regularly across the globe, Kimani has mainly been based in Malawi, Rwanda and Kenya for significant periods. He holds an economics degree and is an MBA graduate from the University of Wisconsin.
