South Africa and the European Union have signed a major critical minerals partnership aimed at strengthening value addition, promoting clean-energy supply chains, and reinforcing their shared commitment to multilateral cooperation. The agreement was announced in Pretoria during a joint briefing by President Cyril Ramaphosa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa, as reported by Reuters.
Ramaphosa said the partnership is designed to ensure that minerals are not only extracted in South Africa but also processed domestically to enable the country to secure greater economic value. According to Investing.com, von der Leyen emphasized that critical minerals are central to Europe’s clean-energy transition, particularly at a time when the bloc is seeking to diversify supply chains and reduce risks associated with heavy reliance on China.
The EU has committed to supporting investments across South Africa’s mineral value chains, focusing on beneficiation, low-carbon production systems, and the development of clean-energy technologies. These commitments were outlined in the joint summit declaration published by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation. South Africa and the EU also renewed their pledge to defend a rules-based global trading system, a position highlighted by SAnews during ministerial dialogue discussions.
The agreement aligns with the wider €4.7 billion Global Gateway investment package, which the EU announced earlier this year to support South Africa’s transition to a greener, more competitive economy. According to the European External Action Service, the package includes targeted support for critical minerals, energy infrastructure, and sustainable industrialization.
