Organised in partnership with Missang.
The second edition of the UK–Africa–Middle East Critical Minerals Forum was a high-level conference held in London on 25 November 2025 that brought together government officials, sovereign wealth funds, development banks, and private investors to position the UK as a strategic hub for critical minerals investment, processing, and industrial development.
The Forum also analysed investment partnerships with Africa across mining and the wider ecosystem of energy, infrastructure, logistics, and industrial processing essential for sustainable development.
Against the backdrop of the UK’s evolving Critical Minerals Strategy, Industrial Plan, Defence Industrialisation Roadmap, and initiatives such as Battery Britain, the Forum provided a timely opportunity for African and Middle Eastern stakeholders to engage with the UK’s critical minerals landscape. Through discussions on blended finance, cross-border co-investment, and bankable project pipelines, the Forum sought to promote strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience, advancing ESG-aligned development, and creating mutual value across regions.
Organised in partnership with Missang.
The second edition of the UK–Africa–Middle East Critical Minerals Forum was a high-level conference held in London on 25 November 2025 that brought together government officials, sovereign wealth funds, development banks, and private investors to position the UK as a strategic hub for critical minerals investment, processing, and industrial development.
The Forum also analysed investment partnerships with Africa across mining and the wider ecosystem of energy, infrastructure, logistics, and industrial processing essential for sustainable development.
Against the backdrop of the UK’s evolving Critical Minerals Strategy, Industrial Plan, Defence Industrialisation Roadmap, and initiatives such as Battery Britain, the Forum provided a timely opportunity for African and Middle Eastern stakeholders to engage with the UK’s critical minerals landscape. Through discussions on blended finance, cross-border co-investment, and bankable project pipelines, the Forum sought to promote strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience, advancing ESG-aligned development, and creating mutual value across regions.
Rt Hon. Calvin Bailey MP—UK Trade Envoy for Southern Africa, and Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead
Rt Hon. Noah Law MP (chair)—Labour MP for St Austell and Newquay; Chair of the Critical Minerals APPG
Oliver Richards—Head of Critical Minerals and Mining, UK Department for Business and Trade
Hugo Brodie—Head of Sustainability and Physical Markets Development, London Metal Exchange
Jeremy Wrathall—Executive Chairman, Cornish Lithium
H.E. Macenje Mazoka—High Commissioner of Zambia in London
Caspar Rawles—COO, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Peter Handley—Founder, PHASE32
Vomic Nur Shah—Global Head of Origination and Client Coverage, UK Export Finance
Sir Liam Fox—Former UK Secretary of State for International Trade
Veronica Bolton Smith—CEO, The Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG)
Dr Guy Kioni—CEO, Missang; Fellow, Cambridge MENAF
Paul Ekins (chair)—Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy, University College London (UCL)
Wednesday, 26 November
15:30 – 17:00
An exclusive reception hosted at the House of Lords, featuring welcome remarks by esteemed members of the House of Lords.
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Northover—Member of the House of Lords and the APPG on Critical Minerals
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Verma—Member of the House of Lords and the APPG on the Democratic Republic of Congo
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