East Africa holds significant reserves of lithium, graphite, cobalt, and nickel, making the region a strategic hub for the global shift toward electric vehicles and renewable energy. However, the region currently relies on a raw material export model that limits domestic economic growth. To move beyond being a raw material source, East African nations are focusing on mid-stream processing and regional integration through the AfCFTA. Overcoming energy reliability issues and establishing sustainable mining standards are key to building a local value chain for clean energy technologies.
