What Are Critical Minerals and Why Do They Matter for Malawi?

Critical minerals are essential to clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable power, batteries, and digital infrastructure. As global demand accelerates, these minerals are becoming central to energy security and industrial growth.

Malawi holds promising deposits of several transition-relevant minerals, including graphite, rare earth elements, manganese, titanium minerals, and emerging lithium prospects. However, mineral wealth alone will not deliver development.

The key opportunity lies in moving beyond raw extraction towards value addition, skills development, and industrial capability. With timely policy alignment and investment, critical minerals could support Malawi’s industrialisation, job creation, and long-term economic resilience.