- 24th version of ADU attracts big crowds
- 18 African government delegations participate
- Strong critical minerals momentum highlighted
- Numerous new relationships formed
The annual 2026 Africa Down Under event again proved to be one of the major mining gatherings in Australia with packed crowds attending the three-day event in Perth.
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With 18 African government delegations and more than 40 ASX-listed companies participating, a clear picture of the bounce back of the African mining sector was painted for the more than 1500 attendees.
In opening the event, Matt Thistlethwaite, Australia’s assistant minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and assistant minister for Immigration, said more than 170 Australian companies are working across African nations, in a broad range of sectors with investments of more than $60 billion.
“Right now, Africa is poised for significant growth: in its population, in its economies, in its development,” Mr Thistlethwaite told the opening day audience.
“Its role in the world is shifting fast, whether that be as a partner of trade, investment, development or peace and security.
“But keenest of all is Africa’s coming role in the global transition to clean energy.
“We know that manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles is heavily reliant on critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, graphite, and rare earths.
“And, as the demand for those minerals begins to soar, the need to develop the critical minerals reserves with which Australia and African nations are endowed is going to be acute.”
With a wealth of mineral riches, mining experience and knowledge amongst the presenters and panel members, attendees were provided with a unique view of the many areas of exploration and development excitement across Africa.
One area that really stood out early was Zambia where serious copper riches are well known.
For Prospect Resources (ASX: PSC) Zambia is ticking all the boxes for the emerging pure play copper opportunity.
A proven copper belt, great neighbours, a pro mining government and the potential to develop a prime assert at capital costs significantly lower than competitive jurisdictions like South America and Europe, Zambia is attracting growing investment.
Prospect is rapidly advancing the flagship Mumbezhi copper project in the NW Zambian Copper Belt
It currently has two granted mining licenses across its tenement, which means it is on track to start mining.
“We don’t need any additional resources to get this project up,” Ian Goldberg, executive director of finance, told a large audience on day one of Africa Down Under.
“The infrastructure in this area is extraordinary. We’ve got roads, we’ve got power lines, we’ve got a town and an airport right close and that means we’ve got multiple development options.”
Mr Goldberg highlighted the benefits of having highly active neighbours which are adding significantly to the critical infrastructure in the area surrounding Mumbezhi.
For its own part, Prospect has undertaken a significant amount of drilling, including 27,815m of drilling completed during the last two field seasons taking the Mumbezhi MRE to around one million copper equivalent tonnes.
He also highlighted the benefits of the by-products contained at Mumbezhi with the existing gold and cobalt within the MRE delivering an approximately 0.49% CuEq grade.
Those numbers will feature in a scoping study the company plans to publish early next year as the next big step in commercialising a high-class asset,
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