Cape town: Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) is set to make a significant impact at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, scheduled from October 14-16 in Cape Town, by bringing a delegation of senior executives to bolster its commitment to capital mobilization for Africa's mining, mineral processing, and infrastructure development.
According to African Press Organization, Franklin Edochie, Deputy Director and Head of Metals and Mining at AFC, will deliver a keynote address. His presentation will focus on the institution's investment strategy, its influence on Africa's mining sector, and the various financing approaches employed to enhance mineral production and support local beneficiation efforts.
Investment Associate Ahmed Bello-Maccido is slated to participate in a panel discussion on "Regional Connectivity: Financing Africa's Mineral Infrastructure." The panel will explore how strategic infrastructure investments-such as in rail, ports, and roads-can link mineral-producing regions to both domestic and international markets, thereby fostering regional trade and value addition.
Molebogeng Mazibuko, Associate Vice President and Mining Lead, will contribute to discussions on "Enabling Africa's Value Addition Corridors." Her insights will address how reliable energy and logistics infrastructure can underpin mineral processing hubs and industrial corridors throughout the continent. Furthermore, she will present on "Partnering with AFC to Unlock Africa's Mining Potential," emphasizing partnership and financing structures that could mobilize substantial capital for the development and processing of Africa's mineral resources.
AFC's participation in AMW 2026 comes at a time when the institution is expanding its project financing to transition African economies from raw mineral exports to more comprehensive processing, manufacturing, and industrial development initiatives. In Nigeria, AFC has collaborated with the Solid Minerals Development Fund on key projects, including a $1.3 billion alumina refinery and a nationwide geoscience mapping program, aimed at advancing mineral exploration and development.
Infrastructure development plays a pivotal role in AFC's strategy to unlock mineral potential. The institution achieved financial closure on the $753 million Lobito Corridor Railway Project, with funding from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. This project will rehabilitate and upgrade a 1,300-kilometer rail corridor, enhancing connectivity from the Port of Lobito in Angola to the DRC border, thus integrating mineral-producing regions in the DRC and Zambia with Angola's Atlantic coast and global markets.
AFC's extensive mining portfolio includes diverse commodities and markets across Africa. Notable transactions include a $330 million senior debt financing for the Baomahun Gold Project in Sierra Leone, a $240 million loan for KEFI's Tulu Kapi Gold Project in Ethiopia, and a $220 million investment in Lucara's Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. Furthermore, a $244 million investment in Nouvelle Gabon Mining supports the development of manganese deposits in Franceville and Okondja.
These investments highlight AFC's approach to combining project finance, structured capital, infrastructure investment, and strategic partnerships to tackle financing and infrastructure challenges within Africa's mining industry. At AMW 2026, AFC aims to engage with governments, mining companies, investors, and infrastructure developers to leverage Africa's mineral wealth for productive investment, local value addition, and broader economic growth.
