African Mining Week 2026 to Spotlight AI and Advanced Technology Driving Africa’s $8.5 Trillion Mining Transformation
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 23, 2026/ — African nations are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies to optimise operations across the mining value chain, as the sector positions itself for large-scale digital transformation.
The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, billed as The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa, is scheduled for October 14–16 in Cape Town. The event will bring together technology providers, investors, project developers, and regulators to explore how digital innovation is reshaping Africa’s mining industry.
The conference will feature a dedicated panel titled “Leveraging Advanced Technologies & AI to Transform Mining Practices for Sustainable Growth”, focusing on the use of AI, emerging challenges, and investment opportunities within the continent’s mining sector.
AI Accelerating Mineral Exploration Across Africa
Across Africa, governments and mining firms are increasingly deploying AI-driven solutions to accelerate mineral exploration and reduce operational risks.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), AI is already transforming exploration activities. Speaking at AMW 2025, Louis Watum Kabamba, the DRC Minister of Mines, said AI-enabled exploration could reduce resource discovery timelines to under three years.
He added that the country is leveraging AI to unlock 90% of its geology and more than $24 trillion in untapped mineral resources.
In February 2026, the DRC partnered with Xcalibur Smart Mapping to use advanced geospatial technologies for mapping critical minerals and reducing exploration risks. The country is also working with U.S.-based startup KoBold Metals to apply AI-driven techniques at the Mingomba Lithium Mine.
Regional Partnerships Expanding AI Use in Mining
Other African countries are also embracing AI-led mining innovations.
In Burundi, the government has partnered with KoBold Metals and Lifezone Metals to digitise its geological database and assess the 140-million-ton Musongati Nickel Project.
In Zambia, KoBold Metals is applying AI at the Mingomba Copper Project to identify high-grade deposits and speed up production, supporting national plans to increase copper output to three million tons by 2031.
In Ghana, the Ghana Gold Board and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority are using AI-supported mineral prospectivity modelling to assess mineralisation in Funsi, Atuna, and Bensere East, as part of efforts to expand gold reserves and production.
Meanwhile, Botswana Minerals is using AI to diversify its mining sector beyond diamonds, with the technology helping identify eight new copper deposits, strengthening the country’s entry into critical minerals.
AI Positioned at the Centre of Africa’s Mining Future
As African countries accelerate exploration to unlock an estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources, AI and advanced technologies are expected to play a central role in reshaping the industry.
Organisers say the AMW 2026 panel will explore how AI can de-risk exploration, improve operational efficiency, and support sustainable, value-added development across Africa’s mining sector.
The discussions will also focus on how the continent can better leverage its 30% share of global critical minerals, amid projections that global demand will triple by 2030.
Industry Outlook
The event is expected to serve as a key platform for shaping Africa’s mining future, with stakeholders exploring how digital transformation can improve competitiveness, attract investment, and unlock new mineral frontiers across the continent.