DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania says it has attracted renewed international investor interest in its mining sector following engagements at the annual Mining Indaba International Conference, as the government intensifies efforts to shift from raw mineral exports to in-country processing and value addition.
The conference, held from February 8 to 12 in Cape Town, South Africa, convened governments, mining houses, financiers and development partners to discuss investment flows, sustainability standards and the role of critical minerals in the global energy transition.
In a statement, the Ministry of Minerals said several international stakeholders expressed readiness to initiate investment processes in Tanzania, particularly in downstream industries aimed at processing minerals locally rather than exporting unrefined ore.
“Participation in the Mining Indaba has generated new investment opportunities following high-level engagements between the Tanzanian delegation and key international stakeholders,” the ministry said. “Several global investors expressed clear interest in initiating investment processes in Tanzania’s mining sector.”
Gold anchor, diversification drive
Mining is one of Tanzania’s leading foreign exchange earners, contributing roughly 9–10 per cent of gross domestic product and a significant share of export revenues, according to government data. The country is Africa’s fourth-largest gold producer after South Africa, Ghana and Mali, with annual output averaging between 50 and 60 tonnes in recent years.
Major gold operations include those run by Barrick Gold in partnership with the Tanzanian government, as well as other multinational operators. Gold accounts for the bulk of mineral export receipts, making the sector highly sensitive to global price movements.
Beyond gold, Tanzania holds commercially significant deposits of diamonds, coal and the gemstone tanzanite — found almost exclusively in the northern Manyara region. The country also possesses sizeable reserves of nickel, graphite and rare earth elements, which are increasingly viewed as strategic minerals due to their use in electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage and high-tech manufacturing.
Global demand for graphite and nickel has risen sharply amid the push toward decarbonisation and electrification, placing resource-rich African countries at the centre of supply chain discussions. Tanzanian authorities have said they aim to leverage this demand to develop processing capacity domestically, rather than remaining primarily an exporter of raw materials.
Policy reforms and local value addition
In recent years, Tanzania has implemented a series of reforms to strengthen state participation, increase transparency and formalise artisanal and small-scale mining. Changes to mining legislation have emphasised local content requirements, revenue-sharing mechanisms and beneficiation.
At the Cape Town conference, Minister for Minerals Antony Mavunde outlined regulatory frameworks guiding the industry and highlighted efforts to increase Tanzanian participation across the mineral value chain.
He said the government’s strategy prioritises value addition to enhance revenue retention, create skilled jobs and facilitate technology transfer. This includes encouraging investment in smelting, refining and mineral processing facilities within Tanzania’s borders.
Discussions at the Indaba focused on mineral processing partnerships, geological exploration and critical minerals development. Investors also emphasised the importance of reliable geoscientific data to reduce exploration risk and improve project bankability.
Tanzania expects to benefit from the European Union-supported PanaAfGeo+ programme, which seeks to strengthen geoscientific research capacity across Africa through technical training, institutional support and improved geological data management systems.
“Capacity building was emphasised, particularly in vocational skills development, modern technologies and geoscientific data management,” the ministry said.
The Tanzanian delegation included representatives from the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), the Tanzania Chamber of Mines (TCM), the Federation of Miners’ Associations of Tanzania (FEMATA), Tanzania Youth in Mining (TYM) and Tanzania Women and Youths in Mining and Mineral Industry (TWiMMI), alongside mining firms, financial institutions and service providers.
Officials said the participation underscored efforts to integrate artisanal miners, youth and women into formal value chains — a key component of Tanzania’s strategy to widen economic inclusion in the sector.
Positioning in a competitive landscape
Tanzania’s renewed investor outreach comes as African governments compete to capture greater value from mineral resources amid shifting global supply chains. Countries such as Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also seeking to expand copper and cobalt processing domestically, while South Africa remains a major mining investment destination.
By promoting local processing, strengthening regulatory clarity and investing in geological data, Tanzanian authorities say they aim to balance investor confidence with domestic industrialisation objectives.
With global energy transition policies accelerating demand for battery and renewable energy minerals, officials argue that Tanzania is positioning itself not only as a stable gold producer but also as a future supplier of critical minerals to international markets — provided infrastructure, skills and financing frameworks continue to improve.
The government has signalled its ambition to increase mining’s contribution to GDP and export earnings over the medium term, while ensuring environmental compliance, community benefits and long-term resource sustainability.
