(Yonhap Interview) Tanzania's POSCO-backed mine to play key role in global battery supply chain: top envoy
Tanzania's ambassador to South Korea, Noel Emmanuel Kaganda, is seeking increased Korean investment in his country's critical minerals sector, emphasizing the goal of establishing value chains within Tanzania. He highlighted the POSCO International-backed Mahenge graphite project as a key player in the global electric vehicle battery supply chain, with commercial production expected by 2028. Tanzania also possesses significant reserves of other strategic minerals like nickel, lithium, and rare earth elements.
Why it matters
This initiative could significantly impact the global supply chain for EV batteries, diversifying sources of critical minerals and fostering economic development in Tanzania, while strengthening economic ties between Tanzania and South Korea.
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SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- Tanzania's new ambassador to South Korea has called for Seoul's greater investment in its critical minerals sector, hoping that a graphite project backed by Korea's POSCO International will play a key role in the global battery supply chain.
Ambassador Noel Emmanuel Kaganda made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Friday, his first with a Korean media outlet since presenting his credentials to President Lee Jae Myung earlier this month.
Tanzania's Ambassador to South Korea Noel Emmanuel Kaganda speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the Tanzanian Embassy in Seoul on July 24, 2026. (Yonhap)
"Our objective is not simply to export raw materials but to establish value chains within Tanzania through processing, manufacturing, skills development, technology transfer and responsible mining," the ambassador said.
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