Silver Mining in Africa: Top Guide to Production, Mines, and Investment Opportunities in 2025

Silver mining in Africa is experiencing a remarkable surge, positioning the continent as one of the world’s fastest-growing suppliers of this precious and industrial metal.

While Africa is better known for gold, diamonds, and platinum, silver production across the continent has quietly risen in strategic importance. In recent years, Africa silver production has consistently accounted for 6–8% of global supply, driven by both primary silver mines and by-product output from gold, copper, lead, and zinc operations.

The economic importance of silver cannot be overstated. Over 50% of global silver demand now comes from industrial applications — solar panels, electric vehicles, 5G technology, electronics, medical devices, and batteries.

The remaining demand is split between jewelry, silverware, and physical investment (coins and bars). With silver prices trading near multi-year highs in 2025, silver mines in Africa are attracting renewed attention from international investors seeking exposure to this dual-purpose metal.

This in-depth guide explores where silver is found in Africa, the top-producing countries, the largest silver mines in Africa, mining methods, economic impact, challenges, sustainability efforts, and — most importantly — the compelling investment case for African silver mining in the decade ahead.

Overview of Silver in Africa: History and Global Context

Silver mining on the African continent dates back thousands of years. Ancient civilizations in North Africa and the Maghreb traded silver with Phoenicians and Romans.

However, large-scale modern silver extraction only began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, largely as a by-product of colonial-era gold and base-metal mining.

Today, Africa contributes approximately 120–150 million ounces of silver annually — roughly 6–8% of global production, according to the latest USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries and Silver Institute data.

Although Mexico, Peru, and China dominate primary silver production, Africa stands out for its low-cost by-product silver from polymetallic and gold mines.

Key questions investors and researchers often ask:

Where is silver found in Africa? Primarily in the Magreb (Morocco), Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana), and the Copperbelt (Zambia, DRC).
Is Africa rich in silver? Not in the same league as Mexico or Peru for primary deposits, but exceptionally rich in by-product silver from world-class gold and base-metal districts.

Top Silver-Producing Countries in Africa

1. Morocco – Africa’s Largest Primary Silver Producer

Morocco is the undisputed leader in African primary silver mining. The country consistently ranks among the global top 10–12 silver-producing nations. Almost all Moroccan silver comes from the famous Imiter Mine, one of the highest-grade and lowest-cost silver operations on earth.

2024 estimated production: ~28–32 million ounces

2. South Africa

Despite being the continent’s largest overall mining jurisdiction, South Africa produces silver almost entirely as a by-product of gold, PGM, and lead-zinc mining. Major contributors include Impala Platinum, Sibanye-Stillwater, and Pan African Resources operations.

2024 estimated production: ~18–22 million ounces

3. Namibia

Namibia has emerged as a significant player thanks to the Rosh Pinah and Skorpion zinc-lead-silver mines.

2024 estimated production: ~12–15 million ounces

4. Zambia

The Zambian Copperbelt delivers substantial by-product silver from giant copper mines such as Kansanshi (First Quantum) and Sentinel (Barrick).

2024 estimated production: ~10–12 million ounces

5. Botswana, Tanzania, Ghana, and Burkina Faso

These countries contribute smaller but growing volumes, mainly from gold mines (e.g., Geita in Tanzania, Ahafo in Ghana, and Motapa in Botswana).

Combined 2024 production: ~15–20 million ounces

Major Silver Mines in Africa You Should Know

Mine Name	Country	Operator / Owner	Type	2024 Est. Silver (Moz)	Notes
Imiter Silver Mine	Morocco	Managem Group (Moroccan royal family holding)	Primary underground	28–30	One of the world’s top 10 pure silver mines
Rosh Pinah	Namibia	Trevali Mining / Appian Capital	Underground Zn-Pb-Ag	10–12	Expansion underway
Black Mountain	South Africa	Vedanta Resources	Underground Zn-Pb-Ag	6–8	Part of Gamsberg complex
Pering Mine (restarting)	South Africa	Orion Minerals	Zn-Pb-Ag	Potential 5+	Restart planned 2026
Kansanshi	Zambia	First Quantum Minerals	Open-pit copper	8–10	Major by-product silver
Lubambe	Zambia	EMR Capital / ZCCM-IH	Underground copper	4–6	Growing output

The Imiter silver mine in Morocco remains the largest silver mine in Africa and one of the ten largest primary silver mines globally.

How Is Silver Mined in Africa? Mining and Extraction Methods

Silver extraction in Africa employs both primary and by-product methods:

Primary Silver Mining (Morocco – Imiter)

High-grade vein systems mined via underground cut-and-fill or long-hole stoping
Ore grades often exceed 400–600 g/t Ag
Flotation followed by cyanide leaching of tailings

By-Product Silver Mining (South Africa, Zambia, Namibia)

Silver recovered during zinc, lead, copper, or gold processing
Typical recovery circuits: flotation → concentrate → smelting/refining
Dore bars or silver-bearing concentrates shipped to international refiners (Switzerland, Germany, India)

Most African silver is refined outside the continent, although Morocco and South Africa have domestic refining capacity.

Economic Importance of Silver Mining in Africa

Silver mining contributes billions in export revenue and supports hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Morocco: Silver is the country’s third-largest mining export after phosphates and copper
South Africa: Silver adds critical value to PGM and gold operations
Zambia & Namibia: Silver credits significantly reduce all-in sustaining costs (AISC) for zinc and copper producers

With the global push toward electrification and renewable energy, industrial silver demand is forecast to grow 8–10% annually through 2030 (Silver Institute 2025 Outlook).

Challenges Facing Silver Mining in Africa

Despite the upside, operators face significant hurdles:

Political and regulatory risk in certain jurisdictions
Illegal artisanal mining (particularly in Morocco and South Africa)
Water scarcity in arid regions (Namibia, Northern Cape)
Power supply instability (Zambia, South Africa load-shedding)
Volatile silver prices and currency fluctuations
Community protests and permitting delays

Environmental Impact and Sustainability Practices

Modern African silver miners are increasingly adopting international standards:

Managem (Imiter) has achieved ISO 14001 and is investing in dry-stack tailings
Trevali (Rosh Pinah) uses paste backfill to minimize surface tailings
First Quantum (Kansanshi) recycles >70% of process water
Many companies fund community water projects, schools, and clinics as part of social license to operate

Investment Opportunities in African Silver Mining

Africa remains one of the most underexplored and undervalued silver jurisdictions globally. Key attractions for investors:

High industrial demand growth (solar, EVs, 5G)
Low all-in sustaining costs for by-product producers
Major new projects and restarts (Pering, Platreef, Khoemacau silver stream)
Improving mining codes in Morocco, Namibia, and Botswana
Rising number of London, Toronto, and Sydney-listed companies with African silver exposure

Notable publicly listed companies with significant African silver production or projects:

Managem S.A. (Morocco) – primary silver pure-play
Pan African Resources (JSE: PAN) – South Africa gold + silver
Orion Minerals (ASX: ORN) – Prieska & Okiep restarts
First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM) – Kansanshi & Enterprise
Trevali Mining / Appian Capital – Rosh Pinah expansion

Junior explorers with high-grade discoveries in Morocco, Namibia, and Eritrea are also attracting speculative capital.

The Future of Silver Mining in Africa

The outlook is strongly positive:

Global silver supply is expected to remain flat or decline as older mines deplete
Industrial demand continues structural uptrend (solar alone expected +20% in 2025)
New technologies (AI-driven exploration, automated mining) lowering costs
Morocco planning second major primary silver mine
Zambia and DRC copper boom = more by-product silver

Analysts forecast African silver production could reach 200 million ounces annually by 2030 if all announced expansions and restarts proceed.

FAQs about Silver Mining in Africa

Which African country produces the most silver?

Morocco is the clear leader, producing approximately 28–32 million ounces annually, almost entirely from the Imiter mine.

What is the biggest silver mine in Africa?

The Imiter Silver Mine in eastern Morocco – one of the top 10 primary silver mines globally.

Is silver mining profitable in Africa?

Yes — especially for by-product producers. Many Zambian copper and Namibian zinc mines have negative or near-zero AISC for silver after credits.

How much silver does Africa produce annually?

Approximately 120–150 million ounces (6–8% of global supply) based on 2024–2025 data.

Can foreigners invest in African silver mines?

Yes. Morocco, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia welcome foreign direct investment under clear mining codes.

Ready to Invest or Source African Silver?

Whether you are a fund manager seeking exposure to rising African silver production, a manufacturer needing secure long-term silver supply, or a private investor interested in physical metal from verified African refiners — we can help.

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