Critical Minerals

In partnership with the World Economic Forum and supported by McKinsey & Company, the DBSA is proud to present a Playbook of Solutions that will help unlock investment, strengthen regional supply chains, and enable inclusive growth in the clean power and critical minerals sectors.

Overview

Southern Africa holds some of the world’s most valuable reserves of critical minerals—key inputs for clean technologies such as electric vehicles, battery storage, and renewable energy infrastructure. Yet the region remains underinvested, with much of the mineral value leaving our shores unprocessed. This Playbook calls for a paradigm shift towards retaining value locally, promoting beneficiation, and ensuring that communities and regional economies benefit from this global transition.

Through collaborative action and targeted financing, Southern Africa can become a global hub for sustainable, equitable mineral and clean power value chains, delivering jobs, skills, and economic resilience for decades to come.

What We Offer

DBSA plays a catalytic role in transforming ideas into bankable projects. Our offerings cover the entire project lifecycle, ensuring that high-potential initiatives receive the technical, financial, and strategic support needed to succeed.

Planning: Support in adopting sound infrastructure plans, aligned with national and regional priorities, to identify projects with sustainable impact potential.
Project Preparation: Funding and expertise from concept development through to financial close, ensuring that projects meet bankability requirements.
Programme Development: Structuring large-scale programmes that integrate multiple projects to achieve systemic change and scale impact.
Fund Management: Creating and managing blended finance vehicles that mobilise both public and private capital for infrastructure development. Financing: Providing debt and catalytic capital to advance infrastructure delivery, with a focus on regional integration and sustainable development.
Climate Financing: Mobilising climate-aligned funding to support renewable energy, climate resilience, and just transition projects.

Focus Areas

Our work spans key sectors that underpin economic growth and sustainability:

Energy
Supporting Independent Power Producers (IPPs), modernising grids, and driving adoption of clean energy solutions across the region.

Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
Expanding digital infrastructure and connectivity to bridge the digital divide and enable economic inclusion.

Transport
Investing in strategic transport corridors, logistics hubs, and infrastructure that enhances regional trade and mobility.

Project Showcase

Our track record demonstrates our ability to deliver transformative projects at scale:

Redstone Concentrated Solar Power Plant: South Africa’s largest renewable energy investment to date, delivering reliable, clean power and creating local employment.

Khobab Wind Power Project: Harnessing wind energy to address climate change, stimulate local economies, and reduce carbon emissions.

Vaal River System Water Resources Development: Securing water supply for communities and industries, supporting economic stability in water-scarce regions.

Latest News

Stay up-to-date with our most recent initiatives and partnerships:

The China Development Bank Credit Line: A $293 million agreement to strengthen infrastructure investment capacity in Southern Africa.

Kazangula Project Commissioning: Enhancing cross-border connectivity and trade in the SADC region.

GEF-Funded Urban Development Initiative: Driving sustainable city development through climate-smart infrastructure and inclusive planning.

Resources & Downloads

Access the Playbook of Solutions to explore a comprehensive framework for accelerating investment across Southern Africa’s critical minerals and clean power value chains. The Playbook includes practical tools, case studies, and policy recommendations designed for governments, financiers, and industry leaders.

Download the Playbook (PDF)