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Tanzania unveils mining sector’s priorities in 2025
The minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, in a past event. PHOTO| FILE
What you need to know:
- With the sector’s contribution to government revenue rising from 6.8 percent in 2022 to 9.0 percent in 2023/24, the mining industry is expected to generate approximately Sh1 trillion for the government this year
Dar es Salaam. Reducing conflicts among miners, developing a strategic minerals’ framework, providing technology training for small-scale miners, and expanding areas with verified mining data are among the priorities outlined by the ministry of Minerals to strengthen the sector.
With the sector’s contribution to government revenue rising from 6.8 percent in 2022 to 9.0 percent in 2023/24, the mining industry is expected to generate approximately Sh1 trillion for the government this year.
Speaking in an interview with The Citizen on Sunday, January 12, the minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, his docket’s key priorities aimed at building on the growth witnessed in recent years.
One of the main focus areas, he noted, is reducing conflicts within the sector.
“We are actively resolving disputes between large-scale and small-scale miners, as well as conflicts among small-scale miners themselves, especially in areas with overlapping licenses and ownership disputes,” he said.
The ministry is also working to create an enabling environment to attract major investments by collaborating with the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC).
“At the same time, we are focused on increasing revenue from the mining sector, which has grown year after year. This year, our target is to collect Sh1 trillion to contribute to the government’s main fund,” Mr Mavunde said.
He further stressed the importance of research to identify and expand areas with mining geological data.
“Many small-scale miners operate without sufficient geological information. Our strategy for this year is to enhance mineral research, ensuring more areas have accurate data,” he explained.
According to Mr Mavunde, the ministry is finalising a special strategic minerals’ framework that will outline the pillars and value chains to maximise the potential of critical minerals.
“Strategic minerals are in high demand globally, and through this plan, we aim to increase their value, create jobs, and boost the country’s economy,” he said.
On the role of technology and education, the minister pointed out that the adoption of modern mining methods has led to significant improvements in efficiency and revenue generation.
“There are now advanced ways of gold recovery, including the use of Carbon in Pulp (CIP) plants in areas like Itumbi, Katete, and Lwamgasa. Small-scale miners are being trained on these methods to extract gold without harming the environment,” he said.
He further added that government loans have enabled miners to install CIP machines, which have significantly boosted production efficiency.
“Miners are now better informed. In the past, some relied on guesswork, using vegetation as an indicator of mineral deposits. Now, miners are using drones to survey their sites,” Mr Mavunde said.
According to the minister, the education programme for small-scale miners reflects their significant contribution to the sector, which accounts for 40 percent of the mining industry’s output.
“Our goal is to empower small-scale miners so they can increase their contribution while ensuring both small and large-scale miners benefit equally from the sector,” the minister concluded.
