Officials from Tanzania and South Korea participated in the Tanzania-South Korea Critical Mineral Roadshow held in Seoul, where discussions centered on minerals essential for future industries, including lithium, graphite, nickel, and rare earth elements.
The event was organized by the Tanzanian Embassy in Seoul and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), following a June 2024 agreement aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the mineral resources sector. The agreement also included the launch of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement to strengthen trade relations.
A delegation from Tanzania — including representatives from the Ministry of Minerals, Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST), the State Mining Company, and the Mining Commission — took part in the roadshow alongside Korean experts.
Musa Budeda, CEO of GST, stated that Tanzania plans to complete 50 percent of its geochemical surveys by 2030. He pointed to opportunities in mining, refining, and related infrastructure. Budeda also cited projections that copper demand would increase by 1.5 times and lithium demand ninefold by 2040 compared to 2003 levels.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on March 26, 2025, between GST and KIGAM to support joint geological, geochemical, and geophysical research; mineral processing studies; capacity building; and cooperation in natural disaster management.
Tanzanian Deputy Minister of Minerals, Steven Kiruswa, and Tanzanian Ambassador to Korea, Togolani Edriss Mavura, attended the event. The roadshow also included business-to-business meetings and site visits to KIGAM’s facilities in Daejeon.
The event highlighted efforts by both countries to diversify supply chains and increase collaboration in mineral research and development.