CSIS Urges Durable U.S. Critical-Mineral Alliances ? Africa's Ore Is Only the Beginning

Highlights

• CSIS director Dr. Gracelin Baskaran told Congress that Africa and Central Asia are essential to U.S. mineral security, but mines alone are insufficient without rail, ports, power, and financing.
• China's dominance stems from controlling the full supply chain—capital, infrastructure, processing, manufacturing, and customers—not just geology.
• Africa's share of global exploration spending dropped from 16% in 2004 to just over 10% in 2024, despite its vast mineral potential.
• The Lobito Corridor could expand capacity tenfold to 4.6 million tonnes annually, but downstream value creation is possible, not guaranteed.
• True U.S. mineral security requires a fully qualified ex-China pathway covering separation, metals, alloys, and magnets—not just mine ownership.