https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Receive our free daily newsletter:

Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent, covering about 30.3-million square kilometres and home to more than 1.4-billion people as of 2023. The continent comprises 54 recognised sovereign states and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the east and the Red Sea to the north-east. Africa straddles the equator and encompasses diverse climatic zones, from tropical rainforests in the Congo Basin to the Sahara Desert in the north and the Kalahari Desert in the south. The continent is extraordinarily rich in natural resources, including significant deposits of gold, diamonds, platinum, copper, cobalt, oil and natural gas, which underpin much of its mining and energy sectors. Africa's economy is characterised by a mix of agriculture, mining, manufacturing and services, with infrastructure development, energy access and water provision remaining critical challenges across many regions. The continent has experienced rapid urbanisation and population growth, driving demand for electricity, transport networks and sanitation systems. Major regional economic communities include the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the East African Community and the Economic Community of West African States. Africa's business landscape is shaped by both established markets such as South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya, and emerging economies seeking to attract foreign investment and diversify their industrial bases. Climate change, political stability and governance remain key factors influencing economic development and infrastructure investment across the continent.

Latest Articles in 60 Seconds

Africa leads global air cargo growth, records strongest demand in May

Africa registered the strongest air cargo demand of all regions in May, with year-on-year growth of 13.3%, the International Air Transport Association reports. The Africa-Asia trade route saw demand rise by 14.1%, while capacity on the continent increased by 1.3%.

Continent urged to leverage critical minerals for equitable industrialisation

Economist Richard Goode has called on Africa to use its vast natural resources and renewable-energy potential as a platform for equitable resource-based industrialisation, linking mineral corridors to agriculture, forestry, tourism and manufacturing. He warns that the strategic risk is a new scramble in which green minerals are exported raw while rents and technology accumulate elsewhere, and argues that regional power pools and the African Continental Free Trade Area can increase economies of scale and make energy-intensive processing more feasible.

AI integration and legacy data unlock mineral discovery opportunities

Artificial intelligence can help interrogate large heterogenous databases and identify patterns in Africa's underexplored geological archives, Botswana Minerals MD James Campbell says. He notes that AI-assisted prospectivity modelling is expected to become the norm, though human judgment remains essential to provide context, scepticism and accountability.

Africa Updates


law firm Webber Wentzel partner Khurshid Fazel
Outcomes-based bonds a powerful tool
Updated 6 hours ago

The compounding pressures of accelerating urbanisation, decaying legacy systems, climate change and chronic underinvestment in public infrastructure over decades mean that both the public and... 


Photo of Martin Creamer
Infrastructure can be the catalyst that brings Africa together
Updated 6 hours ago By: Martin Creamer

That Africa cannot afford fragmented voices any longer was a point mining and energy luminary Mike Teke made when he addressed the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines last month. We agree. Africa needs far... 


Successful dewatering depends on more than pump selection
Updated 6 hours ago By: Natasha Odendaal

Selecting the right pump for a dewatering application is often far more complex than anticipated, as many operations underestimate just how application-specific dewatering can be, says pumps... 


A generic image of pills
Pharma localisation runs into scale and affordability barriers
Updated 6 hours ago By: Lumkile Nkomfe

South Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing ambitions will depend on resolving fundamental challenges around affordability, scale, procurement and regulatory coordination. This was the overarching... 


Nigeria joins IEA, boosting global energy governance
2nd July 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Nigeria has joined global organisation the International Energy Agency (IEA), which deepens the IEA's cooperation with Africa’s most populous nation and marks a milestone for global energy... 


Pirtek Africa: Growing With the Continent
Pirtek Africa: Growing With the Continent
2nd July 2026

Africa is not short of opportunity, however it is short of reliability. Across mining operations, agricultural holdings, construction sites, manufacturing plants, forestry concessions and more, one... 


Manufacturing Indaba Image
How Manufacturing Indaba is powering Africa’s “Made in Africa” future
2nd July 2026

For decades, Africa has supplied the world with raw materials, agricultural products and natural resources, while much of the value created from these resources has been captured elsewhere. Today,... 


Aviation Safety is running into an environmental compliance paradox
Aviation Safety is running into an environmental compliance paradox
1st July 2026

By: Nkosinathi Myataza - King Shaka International Airport General Manager For decades, bird strikes have been treated primarily as an aviation safety concern, managed within wildlife hazard... 


Managing Director for Arcus GIBB Nigeria and Technical Executive for GIBB South Africa, Wiero Vogelzang
The Art Of Managing Complex Projects Beyond Sa Borders
1st July 2026

As infrastructure projects across Africa continue to grow in scale, complexity and regional significance, the ability to successfully deliver across borders is becoming a critical differentiator... 


Africa saw the strongest air passenger growth in May, reports IATA
30th June 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

The global representative body for the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has reported that total global air passenger traffic fell by -2.2%, year-on-year, in... 


Prepare for the future of trade: Understanding Digital Product Passports
Prepare for the future of trade: Understanding Digital Product Passports
30th June 2026

As global sustainability regulations continue to evolve, African businesses face a new challenge—and opportunity—with the introduction of Digital Product Passports (DPPs). Join Sustainability & ESG... 


More Projects, More Opportunities: What Africa's Energy Transition Means for the Next Generation
30th June 2026

By: Nigel Sun - President of Sungrow Sub-Saharan Africa The African Energy Forum runs over four days. On the fourth day, at the same venue, the forum hosts YES, the Youth Energy Summit, its sister... 


Mastercard opens Africa Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence
30th June 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Payments processing multinational Mastercard has launched its Africa Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence – a pan-African initiative designed to strengthen cyber-resilience, enhance collaboration and... 


Hitachi Energy  provides compelling insight into Africa’s renewables status
Hitachi Energy provides compelling insight into Africa’s renewables status
30th June 2026

Make sure you watch this AT TOP LEVEL interview with Mohamed Hosseiny, the Oversight Country Managing Director for Africa at Hitachi Energy and his comments on the positive manner in which Africa... 


In May, Africa registered the strongest air cargo demand of all regions
29th June 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

Global total air cargo demand increased by 6%, year-on-year (y-o-y), in May, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA is the global representative body for the airline... 


Africa urged to embrace equitable resource-based industrialisation
Africa urged to embrace equitable resource-based industrialisation
29th June 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

As a continent endowed with a vast number of natural resources and high renewable-energy potential, Africa’s natural resources can be a platform for industrialisation if linkages with the rest of... 


Luggage on a carousel
Rate of mishandled air baggage is declining globally
29th June 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

The global aviation industry’s specialist IT and communications group, SITA, has reported that Africa is still the region with the highest rate of mishandling airline luggage. Its 'Baggage IT... 


An image of Japie du Plessis
Murray & Roberts Limited closes Differential transaction for mining businesses
29th June 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

The joint business rescue practitioners (BRPs) of Murray & Roberts Limited (MRL) have completed the Differential Capital transaction, a major milestone in the implementation of MRL’s business... 


A generic image of an offshore oil drilling rig
Stronger action required to bolster energy security – IEA
29th June 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

With oil prices having eased substantially in recent weeks following an interim agreement between the US and Iran in mid-June aimed at curtailing hostilities, regional maritime and military... 


AI integration can help unlock legacy data, enhance mineral discovery
AI integration can help unlock legacy data, enhance mineral discovery
26th June 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

As demand for critical minerals continues to increase globally, the need to explore for and identify mineral resources quicker than before has mounted, raising the need for integrated... 


1
2 3

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

pqt: 0.028s - ct: 0.083s - 115pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now