Cape town: Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) is set to make a substantial impact at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, scheduled to take place from October 14-16 in Cape Town. The institution will send a delegation of senior executives, underscoring its dedication to channeling capital into Africa's mining, mineral processing, and infrastructure sectors.
According to African Press Organization, Franklin Edochie, Deputy Director and Head of Metals and Mining at AFC, is scheduled to deliver a keynote address. His speech will focus on the corporation's investment strategy and its influence on Africa's mining sector. The address will also shed light on the financing methodologies being employed to enhance mineral production and support local beneficiation.
Investment Associate Ahmed Bello-Maccido will participate in a panel discussion titled "Regional Connectivity: Financing Africa's Mineral Infrastructure." The panel will explore how investments in strategic infrastructure, such as rail, ports, and roads, can connect mineral-rich regions to both domestic and international markets, thereby supporting regional trade and value addition.
Additionally, Molebogeng Mazibuko, Associate Vice President and Mining Lead at AFC, will take part in a session called "Enabling Africa's Value Addition Corridors." Her presentation will discuss the role of energy and logistics infrastructure in supporting mineral processing hubs and industrial corridors across the continent. Mazibuko will also present on "Partnering with AFC to Unlock Africa's Mining Potential," focusing on partnership and financing structures that assist mining stakeholders in capital mobilization for the development of Africa's mineral resources.
AFC's involvement in AMW 2026 comes at a time when the institution is broadening its project financing, aimed at transitioning African economies from mere raw mineral exports to more developed processing, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. In Nigeria, AFC has collaborated with the Solid Minerals Development Fund on initiatives including a $1.3 billion alumina refinery and a nationwide geoscience mapping program. These projects are anticipated to boost Nigeria's mineral exploration and development.
Infrastructure development is a crucial aspect of AFC's strategy to unlock mineral potential. The institution has achieved financial closure on the $753 million Lobito Corridor Railway Project, securing funds from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. This project aims to rehabilitate a 1,300-kilometre rail corridor from the Port of Lobito in Angola to the DRC border, enhancing regional connectivity and linking mineral-producing areas in the DRC and Zambia with Angola's Atlantic coast.
AFC's diverse mining portfolio includes significant investments across the continent. Recent transactions comprise a $330 million senior debt financing for Sierra Leone's Baomahun Gold Project, a $240 million loan for Ethiopia's Tulu Kapi Gold Project, and a $220 million investment in Botswana's Karowe Diamond Mine. The corporation's $244 million investment in Nouvelle Gabon Mining is aiding the development of manganese deposits in Gabon.
These strategic investments showcase AFC's comprehensive approach, combining project finance, structured capital, infrastructure investment, and strategic partnerships to tackle the financial and infrastructure challenges prevalent in Africa's mining industry. During AMW 2026, AFC executives plan to engage with governments, mining enterprises, investors, and infrastructure developers to convert Africa's mineral wealth into productive investments, enhance local value addition, and spur economic growth.