Artificial intelligence is becoming more than a technology story for Africa. The rapid expansion of AI models, data centres and the electricity networks needed to run them is creating another source of demand for the minerals that many African economies export.
The World Bank’s October 2026 Africa Economic Update says the global AI investment boom has helped support economic activity and demand for commodities at a time when higher energy costs and tighter financial conditions are putting pressure on African economies. Minerals including copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, platinum-group metals and rare earths are particularly exposed to this trend.
Copper demand is rising alongside the rapid expansion of AI data centres, which require extensive power, electrical and grid infrastructure. Cobalt, nickel, manganese and other critical minerals are also benefiting from investment in batteries, energy storage and the infrastructure needed to support the growing digital economy.
The growing strategic importance of these minerals is already attracting major investment into Africa.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a US-backed consortium is pursuing a proposed $9 billion transaction for a 40% interest in Glencore’s Mutanda Mining and Kamoto Copper Company, two major copper and cobalt operations. The deal reflects growing Western efforts to secure access to critical minerals and reduce dependence on supply chains dominated by China.
Zambia is also becoming a major focus of the competition for critical minerals. The country is negotiating a minerals agreement with the United States, while AI-driven exploration company KoBold Metals has secured hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a major copper project in Zambia. The company uses artificial intelligence and geological data to identify mineral deposits and improve exploration efficiency.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is also expanding its minerals partnership with the United States, with recent deals targeting cobalt and copper-cobalt refining for U.S. supply chains.
For African mineral producers, the opportunity extends beyond higher export volumes and prices, with more value to be captured through processing and refining the minerals needed to power the AI economy.
“AI is becoming an increasingly important source of resilience for Sub-Saharan Africa through both external and domestic channels,” the World Bank said.
The benefits of AI could extend beyond mineral exports, helping African economies address persistent challenges such as low productivity, skills gaps and weak public service delivery.
Realising this potential, however, will require stronger foundations. Many countries still face gaps in reliable electricity, digital connectivity, skills, data and computing infrastructure, which could limit how widely AI is adopted and how much value economies can derive from it.
For governments, the growing AI and minerals boom therefore presents an opportunity to channel new investment and mineral revenues into these foundations, while strengthening the capacity of local economies to benefit from the technology.
