In an interview with Energy Capital & Power during Critical Minerals Africa 2024, Backeberg emphasized the critical role of leveraging geopolitical ties to secure the capital and technologies needed for resource development.

“Over the past decade, most of Africa’s investments in critical minerals came from China, as EU firms withdrew from exploration and production. However, this is now changing, with the EU and the U.S. working to establish value chains independent of China,” stated Backeberg.

Backeberg also highlighted the ongoing growth of China's economy, which offers a stable market for African metals. He suggested that this presents a dual opportunity for Africa: generating vital revenue while expanding trade relationships with the U.S. and EU, who are actively exploring new opportunities in the region.

“The challenge lies in the complexity of critical mineral deposits, which demand sophisticated processing. This underscores the need for effective collaboration with partners in Asia, Europe, the U.S., Australia and Canada, who have strong mining expertise,” added Backeberg.

Finally, Backeberg reiterated that prioritizing ESG principles in project development will be key to attracting the investments necessary for Africa's mining sector to thrive.