Critical minerals developer Lifezone Metals has signed an exclusivity agreement with the government of Burundi to evaluate the Musongati nickel project, one of the country’s largest known nickel deposits.

The project forms part of the East African Nickel Belt and lies about 200 km southwest of Lifezone’s flagship Kabanga nickel project in Tanzania.

The 14-month agreement allows Lifezone to assess the nickel laterite project and commit geological and technical resources toward developing an exploration and economic evaluation programme. The initial phase will include a 30-day scoping study drawing on historical exploration data.

Earlier studies have indicated a resource of more than 140-million tonnes, with potential to recover copper, cobalt, gold, platinum-group metals and scandium as by-products.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony held in Washington, DC at the US Department of State, attended by Lifezone CEO Christopher Showalter and Burundi’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Energy, Industry, Trade and Tourism Hassan Kibeya, as well as US officials including Sarah Troutman.

Showalter said the agreement could unlock another major nickel resource in the region.
“As a NYSE-listed entity, Lifezone is ideally positioned to become the supplier of choice for the United States’ and partner nations of FORGE [Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement] for nickel, a critical metal deemed vital to the US economy and national security,” he said.

He added that the Musongati agreement could help consolidate major deposits in the East African Nickel Belt, strengthening the region’s ability to compete with nickel supply from Southeast Asia.

Representatives from KoBold Metals were also present at the event, signing a separate memorandum of understanding with Burundi to support the digitisation of the country’s geological data using artificial intelligence and advanced data analysis.

FORGE is a multilateral initiative launched last month to replace the Mineral Security Partnership, aimed at strengthening global critical minerals and rare earth supply chains through coordinated engagement between the US, partner countries and institutions such as the European Commission.