On 5th November 2025, the Coalition for Human Rights in Development published a report titled “Ulanga, Tanzania: When Graphite Mining Threatens Livelihoods and Rights”. The report alleges that Graphite mining has disrupted communities’ way of life, bringing promises of development but leaving behind a trail of displacement, broken commitments, and human rights violations. The report stated that instead of empowerment, the impacted communities feel surrounded by outsiders, stripped of their voice, and criminalized for defending their home. The report alleges that since 2012, the Tanzanian government has advanced plans for graphite mining in the Ulanga district. At the moment, there are three main projects, at different stages of implementation: the Mahenge, the Liandu, and the Epanko graphite projects. The Mahenge Graphite Project – one of the largest flake graphite resources in the world – is owned by the Australian Black Rock Mining. Since 2021, the project is managed by the Faru Graphite Corporation joint venture, between Black Rock (84%) and the government of Tanzania (16%). Construction began in 2022 and the mine is expected to operate for over 30 years, with an annual production of 250,000 tonnes of high-purity graphite. The open-pit Mahenge Liandu Graphite Project, meanwhile, is being developed by Armadale Capital, a London-listed natural resources company that acquired it from the Tanzanian company Graphite Advancement. The project is promoted as low-cost and long-life, yet similar to Mahenge, affected communities face challenges in negotiating fair compensation and express the need for resettlement to arable agricultural areas that avoid conflicts with natural reserves. The Epanko mine is owned by the Australia- based company EcoGraf, formerly known as Kibaran. In 2023, EcoGraf incorporated Duma TanzGraphite Limited, creating a joint venture to develop and operate the project. EcoGraf holds an 84% stake in Duma TanzGraphite while the Tanzanian government owns a 16% free-carried interest. The project has attracted several investors, including the German KfW IPEX-Bank, which has been providing advisory services for this project for almost a decade and it is currently mobilizing further funding.

KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH responded by stating that KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH like every financial institution in Germany is subject to particularly strict confidentiality requirements and therefore is not permitted to disclose any information other than information that is publicly available. KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH further stated that all projects supported by Bank are subject to its sustainability guidelines.

POSCO International stated that the company is a minority shareholder in Black Rock Mining Ltd., holding approximately a 5.9% equity stake, and has entered into an offtake agreement as part of a strategic partnership. The project is operated by Black Rock Mining and its project entity in accordance with applicable Tanzanian laws and regulations.

Black Rock Mining stated that the company has undertaken comprehensive public consultations with key stakeholders including village and community leaders in planning resettlement activities and has provided a fulsome plan for the land requirements, compensation and housing provisions and public infrastructure for the new Idenke Settlement Area within the Mdindo Village. Black Rock also stated that the company has conducted Human Rights screening and resettlement activities in accordance with Tanzanian law and aligned with International Finance Corporation Environmental and Social Performance Standard (IFC PS), in particular IFC PS 5 on Land

Full responses from KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, POSCO International and Black Rock Mining can be found below