Tanzania focuses on value creation to attract mining investors

Tanzania is rolling out a series of bold reforms in its mining sector, aimed at transforming its vast mineral resources into an engine for industrial growth and regional integration. Supported by legislative changes, innovative digital tools and an ambitious strategy for 2025/26, the Tanzanian Ministry of Minerals is positioning the country as a key player in the global energy transition, while attracting regional investors, particularly from Uganda.

At the heart of the reforms is a strict local value creation policy, which requires all raw minerals to be processed on Tanzanian soil. "No medium or large-scale mining licence will be granted without a clear plan for local value creation," said Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde at a conference in Dodoma. This measure aims to maximise economic spin-offs by encouraging the development of local processing industries.

Targeting more than 40 critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earths, Tanzania's plan aligns with growing global demand for materials essential to green technologies. "There is room not only for investment in extraction, but also for transformative partnerships linking mining to industry, agriculture and finance," added Mavunde.

To increase transparency and combat smuggling, the government is testing helmet-mounted surveillance cameras for inspectors at the Mirerani mines, the world's only source of tanzanite. A real-time minerals monitoring system, integrated with national databases, is also being developed. This system will track trade flows, environmental compliance, safety standards and tax revenues, offering unprecedented traceability.

The reforms pay particular attention to formalising small-scale miners, who are often women, young people and people with disabilities. Mapped mining plots will be allocated close to modern processing centres, supported by regional equipment rental platforms and public-private partnerships. These initiatives aim to reduce informality, improve environmental management and create an ecosystem of services, ranging from geological advice to microfinance and the production of safety equipment.

Tanzania's Mining Vision 2030 calls for high-resolution geoscientific surveys to map 50% of the country by 2030, up from 16% at present. This initiative aims to reduce exploration risks and boost investor confidence. At the same time, the plan promotes synergies with other sectors, such as water, construction, tourism and transport, to maximise the economic impact of mining.

Tanzania is part of a wider regional dynamic, where East African governments are seeking to harmonise mining laws, promote processing centres and support community cooperatives to stimulate local employment and equitable revenue sharing. At the end of 2024, the Ministries of Minerals of the