Conference Agenda

One of the Copperbelt’s most critical constraints to investment is reliable and affordable power. Experts from industry, investment, and energy will participate in a forward-looking panel at 121 Mining Investment Cape Town focused on how ongoing energy deficits in the DRC and Zambia are impacting mining operations, project timelines, and investor confidence, and what practical, near-term solutions are available. Drawing on actual project experience across the region, the panel will explore how innovative financing models and renewable energy projects can unlock capital for both mining and power infrastructure, while highlighting the importance of collaboration between miners, energy providers, and governments to build a more resilient, predictable energy ecosystem capable of supporting the next phase of copper production and regional growth.

Nedbank will bring a decisive, practitioner-led perspective to 121 Mining Investment Cape Town with a panel discussion that challenges a long-held industry assumption: “A DFS is not bankable unless it comprises a funding plan.” Drawing on more than 20 years of project financing experience, Nedbank will explore why many so-called “definitive” feasibility studies fall short by excluding a clear capital procurement and financing strategy, how this omission can delay construction and jeopardise capital raises. The discussion will highlight the critical interdependence between funding structures and procurement decisions and why integrating a robust funding plan into a DFS is essential for juniors seeking to accelerate development and secure investment with confidence

Mining investors are navigating a market of sharp contrasts: tightening copper supply, volatile battery metals, and resilient gold prices. This panel provides a forward-looking view of global and African commodity markets, examining how macroeconomic forces, supply-demand shifts, and geopolitics are reshaping capital allocation. Analysts, fund managers, and mining executives share where they see the strongest opportunities— and which commodities and jurisdictions are likely to be left behind in 2026.

Africa controls a dominant share of the world’s critical minerals, yet the real investment opportunity in 2026 lies beyond extraction. As governments push beneficiation, global powers compete for supply security, and investors demand ESG-aligned returns, this panel explores how Africa can move up the value chain without undermining project economics. Industry leaders and capital providers discuss which beneficiation models work in practice, how to structure bankable partnerships, and what it takes to turn mineral endowment into long-term strategic value.