Despite the absence of major African economies such as Nigeria and South Africa from the G7 summit, the bloc’s $64 billion critical minerals push could still open fresh opportunities for the continent, as Kenya moves closer to a local processing agreement, while a rare earth processing plant takes shape in West Africa outside direct G7 financing

The United States has secured a preliminary agreement with Kenya to access one of Africa’s largest untapped rare earth and niobium deposits, valued at about $62

Kenya is close to a critical minerals deal with the US that would process rare earths at home, President Ruto said at the G7 summit.