Johannesburg: Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals and instead, build regional value chains that drive industrialisation, create jobs, and strengthen Africa's economic sovereignty. Speaking during a panel discussion on critical minerals at the SADC Industrial Week, Nzimande emphasized the importance of transforming the region's abundant mineral resources into the foundation of future industries.
According to South African Government News Agency, Nzimande referenced President Cyril Ramaphosa's remarks at the 2026 Africa Energy Indaba, stating that Africa's vast reserves of critical minerals present an opportunity to transform the continent's economy. He highlighted that mineral beneficiation must become central to Africa's development agenda, stressing the importance of localised value addition to move beyond merely exporting raw materials.
Nzimande identified the challenge for the SADC region as leveraging critical minerals to build stronger economies. He stressed the need for resilient regional value chains that unlock widespread industrialisation and create sustainable prosperity. The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation views critical minerals as strategic resources, particularly for the hydrogen and battery economies, which are central to South Africa's Decadal Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation.
The government has approved the 15-year Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) Research, Development and Innovation Strategy, aiming to develop local expertise and high-value hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Nzimande highlighted the establishment of three Centres of Competence focusing on various aspects of hydrogen technologies, strengthening South Africa's position in the global hydrogen market.
Nzimande also discussed the department's investment in South Africa's battery economy, focusing on lithium-ion battery development for energy storage and electric vehicles. The Energy Storage Research, Development and Innovation Flagship Programme aims to promote manufacturing, beneficiation, technology transfer, and commercialisation.
The minister stressed the alignment of the department's work with broader government strategies, including the Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy and the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan. The department has approved funding for Africa's first International Network of Wind Energy Measurement Institutes accreditation for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's Subsonic Wind Tunnel Facilities.
Looking ahead, Nzimande emphasized the department's objective to develop technologies, innovation capabilities, and technical skills to enable South Africa and the wider SADC region to capture greater value from their mineral wealth. He envisions SADC as a producer of advanced materials and green technologies, combining mineral wealth with science, technology, innovation, investment, and regional cooperation to build resilient industrial economies and secure the African continent's economic sovereignty.
