![cover of episode [WEEK IN REVIEW] China's Role in Africa's Energy Transition and Biden's Angola Trip](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/4/a/c/2/4ac2786d5b8804ae88c4a68c3ddbc4f2/9CERZsz4.png)
\[WEEK IN REVIEW\] China's Role in Africa's Energy Transition and Biden's Angola Trip
The China in Africa Podcast
Deep Dive
Why was the Sirexe conference in Ivory Coast significant?
It was the first event organized by Ivory Coast to unite the mining, oil, and energy sectors to discuss synergies for economic development within Africa's energy transition. It brought together ministers and leaders from various African countries, focusing heavily on French-speaking nations, along with representatives from Ghana and Angola.
What were the key discussions at the Sirexe conference regarding Africa's green economy transition?
Discussions centered on the role of critical minerals in the transition, the geopolitical competition surrounding these resources, and China's prominent role in the sector. Concerns were raised about how to approach China's involvement, with some blaming African governments for failing to move beyond extraction towards processing and development.
How accurate are perceptions about China's dominance in Africa's mining sector?
Perceptions of China's dominance are often exaggerated. Data suggests Chinese mining accounts for only 6.7% of African mining output, less than half of Anglo-American's share. This misrepresentation extends to critical minerals, where China's presence is significant in the DRC and Zambia but less so in other regions like Namibia, South Africa, and much of West Africa.
Why is President Biden visiting Angola?
The visit aims to highlight U.S. leadership in trade, investment, and infrastructure in Africa; emphasize Angola's regional leadership; and showcase the evolving U.S.-Angola relationship. Key announcements are expected regarding the Lobito Corridor, a major infrastructure project, along with initiatives on global health security, food security, security sector cooperation, and cultural heritage preservation.
What is the Lobito Corridor, and is it solely focused on critical minerals?
The Lobito Corridor is a regional infrastructure project connecting Angola, DRC, and Zambia. While it aims to facilitate trade and investment across multiple sectors like clean energy and agriculture, its focus on rail investments is crucial. These investments reduce transportation costs, improve shipping times, open access to agricultural land, and support the supply chain for critical energy minerals, which are a key driver of the project.
How does the U.S. plan to use infrastructure investments like the Lobito Corridor to compete with China's influence?
The U.S. emphasizes providing choices and supporting sovereign decisions, rather than forcing countries to choose sides. They believe their value proposition lies in trade, investment, partnership, and people-to-people ties. They contrast their approach with what they characterize as China's problematic practices, such as untrusted digital infrastructure, forced labor, and illegal fishing.
What are the challenges for the U.S. in competing with China in the critical minerals sector in Africa?
One major challenge is the sheer scale of China's refining capacity, which the U.S. and Europe currently lack. This means that even if minerals are sourced from Africa via projects like the Lobito Corridor, they may still end up being processed in China. Additionally, the long-term viability of U.S. initiatives like the Lobito Corridor is uncertain given the upcoming change in administration and the potential shift in priorities under a new president.