What Secrets Lie Behind Africa's Recycled Metals? They Have Become a New Blue Ocean for Sustainability!

May 19, 2025 15:37

Source:SMM

Driven by the dual goals of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" and resource scarcity, the global circular economy is thriving. Africa, with its abundant primary mineral reserves and potential for secondary metals, has emerged as a crucial link in the global metal industry chain. Relevant data shows that Africa accounts for 15% and 8% of global copper and aluminum ore reserves, respectively. Countries such as the DRC and Zambia consistently rank among the top copper producers globally, providing ample raw materials for the secondary metals industry.

Meanwhile, in recent years, African countries have taken proactive measures. The DRC revised its Mining Code, significantly streamlining the foreign investment approval process, reducing the approval time from months to weeks, and attracting substantial Chinese and European capital to establish secondary metal processing plants. South Africa launched the "Green Minerals Initiative," offering tax incentives of up to 30% for secondary metal enterprises, encouraging them to expand capacity and upgrade technology.

Furthermore, technological innovation is key to the transformation and upgrading of Africa's secondary copper and aluminum industries. Advanced technologies such as digital mines and automated sorting equipment are rapidly gaining popularity in Africa, significantly enhancing production efficiency and resource recovery rates. As a front-runner in PV deployment, Africa saw a 25% YoY increase in new installations in 2023, driving an annual increase of 150,000 mt in demand for secondary copper. Overall, the combination of Africa's resource endowments, policies, and technologies is injecting strong momentum into the thriving development of the secondary metals industry, making this golden land highly promising in the future wave of green development.

In this context, from June 12-13, 2025, SMM will host the 2025 SMM 2nd Global Secondary Metal Industry Chain Summit Forum in Thailand, inviting Yousef Al Sharif, Manager of Sharif Metals Group, to participate in a keynote speech on the theme of "Exploring Africa: Opportunities for Sustainable Expansion and Raw Material Investment," prospectively exploring new opportunities for the development of Africa's secondary metal industry from key elements such as industrial foundations and policy support, technological innovation and industrial development advantages, as well as market demand boost and investment cases.

Guest speaker

Yousef Al Sharif is the Manager of Sharif Metals Group, a company specializing in metal recycling and manufacturing. He is also a Young Trader of the African Recycling Association and a board member of the Electronic and Electrical Equipment Batteries (EEEVB) Steering Committee of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR).

He actively participates in international recycling conferences organized by ReMa, BIR, BMR, CMRA, and MRA, delivering influential speeches on the importance of sustainable recycling practices.

Confirmed guest speaker

Agenda

June 12 Main Agenda

·9:00-12:00

Company Visits

·10:00-12:00

Registration

·10:00-12:00

Free Networking

·12:00-13:00

Buffet Lunch

·13:30-13:45

Opening Remarks

·13:45-14:00

Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Prospects of Thailand's Secondary Metal Industry

Guest speaker:

Dr. Somthai Wongcharoen, Secretary General of the ASEAN Institution of Recycling (AIR)

·14:00-14:20

From Policy to Market: The Impact of EU Waste Shipment Regulations on the Global Secondary Metal Industry

Guest speaker (pending):

Susie Burrage OBE, President of the European Recycling Association

·14:20-15:10

Roundtable Discussion: Interviews with Top-Tier Entrepreneurs in the Secondary Metal Industry

1. Future Trends in Recycled Raw Material Supply Based on the Development of Thailand's Industry Chain

2. Investment Risks in the Southeast Asian Recycled Metal Industry

3. International Trade Flows and Consumption Trends in the Recycled Metal Industry Amid Geopolitical Changes

Moderator:

Li Shilong, President of China National Alliance for Recycling Industry Technology Innovation

Guest Speakers:

Zhou Xiangchun, General Manager of Da Zheng Da Ji Metal (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Kittipot Thanalertlap, Vice President of Metalcom Ltd.

Zhang Junbing, Global Sourcing Director of Hailiang Group Co., Ltd.

Liu Qingcheng, Deputy General Manager and Director of Thai-China Nonferrous Metals International Co., Ltd.

·15:10-15:25

Tea Break

·15:25-15:40

The Path to Global Recycled Metal Industry Development Driven by the ESG Background

Guest Speaker (pending):

Lionel Lai, Head of Sales and Procurement, Majestic Corporation PLC (AUS)

·15:40-16:00

Changes in the Global Supply-Demand Pattern of the Recycled Metal Industry

Guest Speaker:

Fei Changyun, Senior Consulting Manager of SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd.

·16:00-16:20

Global Recycled Metal Industry Development Trends and Challenges from a Middle Eastern Perspective

Guest Speaker:

Sanjeev Phadke, Treasurer and Executive Committee Member of the Middle East Recycling Bureau

·16:20-17:10

Roundtable Discussion:Exploring the Global Recycled Metal Market: An In-depth Analysis of Strengths and Challenges in India, the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia

Moderator:

Logan Lu, CEO of SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd.

Guest Speakers:

Qin Xinghong, Chairman of GSC Metal Co., Ltd Thailand

Guest Speaker (pending):

Anurag Sharma, Director of the Aluminum Division of Hindalco

Xavier, Chairman of Comercial Riba Farre S.A. C

·18:30-20:00

Award Ceremony and Banquet

Recommendations for High-Quality Overseas Material Yards and Trustworthy Traders in Copper and Aluminum, and High-Quality Equipment Enterprises in Batteries

June 13 Sub-forum

·Battery Forum

·9:00-9:20

Strategic Layout of Thailand's Battery Recycling Industry: A Blueprint for the Development of the Electric Vehicle Industry in the Next Five Years

Guest Speaker:

Dusit, Chairman Advisor of the Ministry of Industry of Thailand

·9:20-10:20

Roundtable Discussion:Southeast Asian Battery Resource Market: Supply Chain Dynamics

Guest Speakers:

Chen Wenkai, President of the Malaysia Nonferrous Metals Association

Sujin Kim, Global Business Development Director of BatX Energies

·10:10-10:30

Current Status and Path to Transformation of the Southeast Asian Waste Lead-Acid Battery Market

Guest Speaker:

Wu Xiaoyun, Chairman of Japan Gaoxing Industrial Co., Ltd.

·10:30-10:50

Tea Break

·10:50-11:10

Improving the Battery Recycling System Driven by the Market Growth of Two-Wheeled Electric Vehicles in Southeast Asia

Guest Speaker:

Yadea Technology Group Co., Ltd.

·11:10-12:00

Roundtable Discussion:Current Status and Future Development Trends of Battery Recycling in New Energy Vehicles

Guest Speakers:

Nicholas Assef, President of the Australian Battery Industry Recycling Association

·12:00-13:30

Buffet Lunch

·Copper and Aluminum Forum

·14:00-14:20

New Dynamics in Global Recycled Copper and Aluminum Supply and Demand from a North American Perspective

Guest Speaker:

Robin Wiener, President of the Recycled Materials Association

·14:20-14:40

SMM Serving the Global Recycled Copper and Aluminum Metal Market

Guest Speaker:

Zhang Xiaoyao, Project Leader of the Recycling Division of SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd.

·14:40-15:00

Global Recycled Metal Supply-Demand Pattern Development from an Indian Perspective

Guest Speaker:

Amar Singh, Secretary General of the Indian Recycling Bureau

·15:00-15:20

Building a New Cambodia-China Metal Hub: Inviting You to Co-establish an Overseas Demonstration Industrial Park for Recycled Nonferrous Metal Processing

Guest Speaker:

Cao Zhuo, General Manager of International Business in the Americas Region of the Cambodia-China Metal Materials Industrial Park

·15:00-15:20

Tea Break

·15:20-16:20

Roundtable Discussion:Recycled Copper and Aluminum Yards: Innovative Recycling and Sorting Technologies Paving the Way for Green Carbon Reduction in the Industry

Guest Speakers:

Liang Jiali, Deputy General Manager of Foshan Lvtian Environmental Protection Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd.

Ross Gunther, Cimco Resources, Inc. President

·16:20-16:40

Exploring Africa: Sustainable Expansion and Raw Material Investment Opportunities

Guest Speaker:

Yousef Al Sharif, Manager of Sharif Metals Group

Sneak Peek at the List of Participating Enterprises

For queries, please contact Lemon Zhao at lemonzhao@smm.cn

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What Secrets Lie Behind Africa's Recycled Metals? They Have Become a New Blue Ocean for Sustainability!

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