Mining Giants Face Water Test in New Green Deal
A new policy proposal would force mining companies to protect water supplies before they can dig for critical minerals, as Egypt pushes for a continent-wide mining alliance and tech firms circle the industry.
Governments should tie water protection rules to licenses for critical minerals, according to a new policy paper that calls on mining companies to prove they will not harm local water supplies before receiving permits [267709]. The proposal covers lithium, cobalt, and other raw materials used in batteries, electronics, and clean energy technology, and would require companies to protect drinking water, limit pollution, and report their water use [267709]. Supporters say the rule would prevent damage to communities near mining sites, while critics warn that extra requirements could slow projects and raise costs [267709].
The proposal does not name specific countries and calls on governments worldwide to adopt the measure voluntarily, with no timeline for adoption set [267709].
The push comes as Egypt urges African nations to form a mining alliance that would keep more of the continent's mineral wealth at home. Industry Minister Khaled Hashem announced the plan at the opening of African Mining Week 2026 in Cape Town, saying African countries should process minerals locally instead of exporting them raw [265604]. The alliance would promote local processing, technology transfer, and industrial investment across the continent, though Hashem did not provide further details on how it would operate or which countries would join [265604].
Tech companies are also showing "deep interest" in buying stakes in mining operations, according to Anglo American's CEO, who did not name specific companies [263119]. The statement signals growing attention from the tech sector toward the raw materials that power data centers, batteries, and artificial intelligence hardware [263119]. Mining supplies metals such as copper, lithium, and cobalt, which are essential for building chips, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems, and tech firms have recently signed deals to secure metal supplies directly from producers [263119].
In Zimbabwe, Indian company Lohum has opened a lithium mine and now plans to move into electric vehicle battery production [263912]. Lithium is a key metal used to make EV batteries, and Zimbabwe holds some of Africa's largest lithium reserves [263912]. The move gives Lohum direct access to raw lithium, which could lower costs and secure supply as global demand for EVs rises, though the company has not said how much it will invest in battery manufacturing or when production will start [263912].