BOGOTA, COLOMBIA Day 2 of the A2D Facility event, moderated by Ms. Ghada Ahmed (Project Coordinator for Critical Minerals at the A2D Facility, UNIDO), pivoted the conversation toward the “Midstream Reality.” The central theme was clear: the energy transition cannot succeed without a fundamental shift in how critical minerals are processed and managed.
A resounding call for local industrialization came from Mr. Abdoul Aziz Idrissa, Senior Mining Engineer for the Ministry of Mining in Niger. Idrissa emphasized that for the African continent to benefit from the global demand for transition metals, there must be an aggressive move toward on-site value addition. This sentiment was echoed by Mr. Vetumbuavi Mungunda, Founder of Ombu Capital, who presented the “Green Rare Earth Processing” initiative in Namibia. This project, supported by a technical team including Simon Hengua and Elisabeth Amadhila, serves as a blueprint for how African nations can move up the value chain from raw ore extraction to sophisticated chemical processing.
The dialogue expanded beyond traditional mining into the realm of the circular economy. Mr. Adrian Clews, CEO of Hinckley E-waste Recycling in Nigeria, showcased how “urban mining”—the recovery of critical minerals from electronic waste—is a vital, low-carbon alternative to primary extraction. Complementing this was Mr. Diego Quintero, CEO of ReSolar LATAM in Colombia, who discussed the lifecycle management of solar infrastructure. Together, these panels highlighted that sustainability in the extractive sector now requires a “cradle-to-cradle” approach to mineral management.
Operationalizing these complex facilities requires sophisticated financial structures. Mr. Samuel Agasa Magiya (Oasis Financial Services, Tanzania) and Ellin Victoria (QMB New Energy Materials, Indonesia) discussed the fiscal transparency needed to attract cross-border investment. As Indonesia and Tanzania emerge as critical hubs for battery-grade materials, the panel noted that aligning local fiscal reporting with international standards is the only way to bridge the current infrastructure funding gap.
The day concluded with a high-level panel moderated by A2D Facility Manager Peter Warren, featuring leaders like Joao Gomes (MG Sustainable Engineering AB) and Consolata Wothaya Kanogu (CFO, Nyeri Hill Farm). The discussion focused on how agricultural and industrial entities, such as the Diocese of Nyeri’s initiatives in Kenya, can integrate renewable energy solutions to power processing units. As the A2D Facility moves toward its 2029 objectives, these “lighthouse” projects demonstrate that with the right combination of technical expertise and inclusive financing, the extractive sector can become the primary engine for global decarbonization.
