
South Korea and 11 African nations held their first Critical Minerals Dialogue on Tuesday, as a key follow-up measure to last June’s inaugural Korea-Africa summit in Seoul, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
The inaugural dialogue was held in Cape Town, South Africa, in conjunction with the African Mining Indaba, a premier event that brings together mining professionals, investors, and industry leaders to discuss the potential and capabilities of Africa’s mining sector.
In her opening remarks, South Korea’s Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun stated that Korea "seeks to build long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships with African countries in the critical minerals sector," the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Wednesday.
Kang also “emphasized that cooperation in critical minerals requires patience, effort, and the establishment of a mutually trustworthy partnership, much like actual mineral extraction.”
The event brought together around 100 government and industry representatives, including around 60 attendees from the African side.
The delegation featured officials from 11 countries—Algeria, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Morocco, the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe —comprising ministers and vice ministers of mining, public institution representatives, and business leaders.
About 20 officials from South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation, and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources participated in the dialogue.
South Korean companies, including POSCO International, LX International, Samsung C&T, Hyundai Everdigm, KCC Glass, and TKG Huchems, were also in attendance.
The first session highlighted Korea’s critical minerals supply chain policy, focusing on securing a stable supply and diversifying sourcing. South Korean companies also outlined their strategies and key ongoing projects in the mining sector, according to the Foreign Ministry.
In the second session, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources presented opportunities for Korea-Africa cooperation in critical mineral exploration and processing.
Following this, African government representatives discussed their critical mineral policies and potential areas for collaboration with Korea, according to Seoul.
Algeria, the Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania introduced their mineral reserves and development strategies, calling for Korean investment and engagement.
The Gambia, Lesotho, Morocco, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe emphasized the potential to enhance value of critical mineral resources and boost local economies through cooperation with Korea’s advanced mineral exploration and extraction technologies.