 "(File) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, right, shakes hand with Chinese President Xi Jinping. AP")
Ahead of the beginning of the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that begins on Wednesday (September 4), China’s focus on Africa has taken on a new hue— green.
With the global push towards renewable energy intensifying, Beijing is positioning itself to tap into Africa’s rich reserves of key minerals while simultaneously seeking new markets for its green technologies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who began holding bilateral meetings with African leaders on Monday (September 2) ahead of the main summit, is expected to make a strong pitch for deepening ties in the renewable energy sector when the forum opens officially.
The stakes are high, as China seeks to secure both the raw materials crucial for its renewable energy ambitions and outlets for its green exports amid increasing competition and trade restrictions from the West.
China’s renewable energy needs
Africa is home to significant deposits of minerals essential for renewable technologies— copper, cobalt, and lithium among them. These are critical components in the production of batteries and other green technologies that are central to the global transition away from fossil fuels, according to an essay in The Conversation.
China, already a leader in solar and wind power technology, has long recognised the strategic importance of these resources.
Currently, Chinese mining interests in Africa, while not as extensive as those of the West, are concentrated in key countries such as Guinea, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These nations are important to China’s plans to secure the supply chains necessary for its burgeoning renewable energy sector.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNew buyers for green exports
Beyond resource extraction, China is also keen on finding new markets for its green technologies. With Western nations increasingly imposing curbs on Chinese exports, Beijing is looking to Africa as a promising market for its electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels.
These sectors have seen significant investment from Chinese firms, and the country is eager to expand its influence by exporting these technologies to Africa.
In recent years, China has shifted its focus away from funding massive infrastructure projects in Africa— such as bridges, ports, and railways— towards supporting green energy initiatives. This shift includes financing for solar farms, EV manufacturing plants, and the expansion of 5G networks across the continent.
President Xi is expected to stress the benefits of African nations aligning with China’s green energy industry. Leaders from across the continent, including Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, will be listening closely as Beijing seeks to solidify its role as a key player in Africa’s energy future while countering Western influence.
With inputs from Reuters