AFA teams with KNY Chemicals to turn mining waste into wealth across Africa
The Africans for Africa (AFA) Initiative signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tanzania-based KNY Chemicals to jointly manage mining tailings across Africa, focusing first on East Africa. The agreement, signed shortly after the fifth African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS), combines KNY’s expertise in mining reagents with AFA’s investment platform to turn mine waste into economically valuable resources while reducing environmental harm.
Mine tailings—waste left after mineral extraction—pose growing risks to water sources, ecosystems, and nearby communities when poorly managed. By improving mineral recovery from these wastes and promoting local processing, the partnership aims to cut Africa’s reliance on imported processing chemicals, keep more value on the continent, and support the continent’s industrialisation agenda. The collaborators said the work aligns with efforts to deepen local value addition and build a circular mining economy.
The MoU outlines joint research and project development to identify beneficiation pathways that use locally sourced chemical inputs. AFA will leverage its Mining Fund I, which follows a 51 percent Total African Benefit model prioritising African ownership and long‑term economic value. KNY Chemicals will deploy its specialised mining‑processing reagents across multiple African jurisdictions. The partners plan to launch initial tailings‑management projects in East Africa, with further details on investment opportunities expected later this year.
If you are involved in mining, investment, or environmental management, watch for upcoming project announcements from AFA and KNY Chemicals, as this partnership could create opportunities for sustainable operations and local value addition across the continent.