NMO supports enhanced partnership with South Africa
TNO - Geological Survey of the Netherlands (TNO-GDN) and the South African Council for Geoscience (CGS) are strengthening their partnership in the fields of critical raw materials, geosciences and CO₂ reduction. The partnership is partly supported by the Netherlands Materials Observatory (NMO).
This step is in line with the 'Memorandum of Understanding' signed prior to the G20 summit in November last year. This strategic partnership focuses on developing projects related to the exploration, extraction, refining and recycling of raw materials. The goal is to stimulate economic development and local employment in South Africa, while strengthening security of supply for the EU.
Research and innovation
Through this collaboration, TNO-GDN and CGS are giving concrete form to their ambition to strengthen research and innovation within the minerals and metals value chains. This partnership is also supported by the Global Gateway PanafGeo+ programme and the NMO.
In the coming period, both organisations will work towards a Memorandum of Understanding, which will further formalise the partnership. In addition, they are preparing the kick-off of the 'Country Window South Africa', the joint research and innovation programme through which concrete activities will be carried out.
Mining Indaba 2026
The partnership comes after the first day of the international mining conference 'Mining Indaba', where a delegation from the NMO, GDN and TNO is present. Attending Mining Indaba gives the organisations the chance to strengthen existing partnerships and take new steps towards joint initiatives within sustainable and strategic value chains.