"Partnering with Vietnam on Rare Earth Elements... Full-Cycle Collaboration from Exploration to Refining"

KIGAM and Vietnam Directorate of Geology and Minerals Sign Agreement
Initiating Efforts to Strengthen the Critical Minerals Supply Chain

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) is ramping up joint research collaboration on rare earth elements with Vietnam, aiming to strengthen the supply chain for critical minerals. The strategy is to secure resources and achieve technological self-sufficiency simultaneously through full-cycle technology cooperation, covering everything from exploration to beneficiation and refining.

On April 23, 2026, KIGAM announced that it had signed an 'Agreement under MOU' with the Vietnam Directorate of Geology and Minerals (VDGM) in Hanoi, Vietnam, for joint research in the field of rare earth resources. This agreement is a follow-up measure that puts into concrete terms the MOU signed between the two organizations in 2023, and was established to build an operational framework for joint research.

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) and the Vietnam Department of Geology and Minerals (VDGM) are taking a commemorative photo after signing an agreement. Tran Binh Trong, Director (left), and Lee Myungjong, Deputy Director of KIGAM. Provided by KIGAM

Critical minerals are essential materials for advanced industries such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy, and their strategic importance is growing amid the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains. In particular, rare earth elements are key raw materials for future industries, and securing resources as well as achieving technological independence are emerging as vital factors for national competitiveness.

The two organizations plan to pursue: joint exploration of ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits; joint research on beneficiation and extraction (refining) technologies; and data sharing along with expert exchanges. They will establish a collaborative framework covering the entire cycle, from exploration to refining, and develop a Terms of Reference (TOR) to launch full-scale joint research starting in 2027.

Although Vietnam has abundant rare earth reserves, it has been evaluated as having limitations in creating added value due to a lack of beneficiation and refining technologies. This collaboration is expected to serve as a complementary model that combines Vietnam's resource potential with KIGAM's technological capabilities.

This project is being promoted in connection with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology's industrial cooperation development support project (ODA). The goal is to establish a technology cooperation hub in Hanoi, Vietnam, and stabilize the supply chain by building research infrastructure and fostering talent. KIGAM plans to accelerate the diversification of the critical minerals supply chain by expanding joint research and the development of exploration and extraction technologies with overseas resource-rich countries.

Kwon Ikgyun, President of KIGAM, stated, "Critical minerals are the foundation that determines future industrial competitiveness, and the importance of international cooperation is increasing. Through collaboration with Vietnam, we will strengthen both resource security and technological competitiveness."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.