The time has come for Africa to shift from policy intent to implementation, says Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad.

Speaking at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 held in Cape Town earlier this month, he noted that the mining community had for many years consistently spoken about the “incredible potential of this continent. What is different today is that the conditions for unlocking that potential are increasingly aligned.”

Citing the Lobito Corridor as an example of regional integration in action, Wanblad urged African governments “to continue engaging on developing the infrastructure required to establish cross-border value chains, integrating power pools, harmonising customs processes and establishing governance structures that enabled action, rather than delaying”.

The Lobito Corridor is a 1 300 km, multi-nation rail-based logistics axis that links the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic coast to the mineral- rich Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the renowned Copperbelt in Zambia.

Wanblad noted that developing such infrastructure required attracting “not tens, but hundreds of billions of dollars”.

He emphasised that such large investments would only flow where policy environments were stable, licensing processes were predictable and risk-sharing mechanisms were credible.

“Surely, value-addition and beneficiation are crucial here; however, they must be economically viable, because it rarely makes sense to replicate each step of the value chain everywhere.

The opportunity lies in planning corridors intelligently, allocating activities where they make the most sense, and then investing accordingly.

“This is how Africa can unlock the full potential of its mineral endowment and turn potential into lasting prosperity.”

No Change for SA in Face of Anglo, Teck Merger
Anglo American and Teck Resources in September last year announced that they had successfully reached a formal agreement to merge their operations into Anglo Teck, a global critical minerals champion and top-five global copper producer.

“As CEO of Anglo American and soon to be Anglo Teck, it is deeply important to me that we are so much more than a mining company, and nowhere more so than here in South Africa,” said Wanblad.

“Now, the merger with Teck does not change that in any way at all. In fact, it strengthens our long-term commitment by creating new opportunities for growth, investment and value.

“We have been a true partner for progress, contributing to nation-building and standing alongside communities through moments of both growth and challenge.

“We certainly believe that a bigger, stronger Anglo American is not only good for our business, but that it is good for South Africa and everywhere else we operate,” noted Wanblad.

“It strengthens our capacity to invest, to grow and to contribute meaningfully to inclusive development. Anglo Teck is good for South Africa, and it is good for Africa.”