Mbeya. Chunya District, Tanzania’s second-largest gold-producing area after Geita, has achieved another milestone with the completion of the Giant Equipment and Machine’s Limited Gold Refinery.
The facility, capable of refining up to 20 kilogrammes of gold per day to a purity level of 99.9 percent, is set to commence full operations soon, pending final approvals from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).
Speaking in an interview with the Madini Diary team from the ministry of Minerals on October 8, 2025, the company’s Operations Manager, Mr Hassan Pazi, revealed that three rounds of refinery tests had been successfully conducted, each achieving a purity standard of 99.9 percent.
This level meets the BoT’s criteria for gold purchases and government reserves, as well as for export purposes. Madini Diary is an outlet of the ministry of Minerals.
“All three refining trials produced a purity level of 99.9 percent, which clearly shows that our machines are functioning optimally and that we have achieved our goal. Miners should therefore prepare, as we shall soon begin full-scale refining operations here in Chunya. For now, we are finalising a few regulatory procedures with the Bank of Tanzania,” said Mr Pazi.
He added that once operational, the refinery will significantly ease the burden on miners and traders who currently have to travel long distances to Dodoma, Geita, or Mwanza to access similar services.
The company has commended the government for allocating land for the establishment of the plant and for providing consistent technical guidance throughout the project’s implementation.
Mr Pazi further noted that the entire refinery was constructed and will be operated by Tanzanian professionals, from engineers and service providers to builders and technicians, underscoring the country’s growing capacity in mining-related industrial development.
In addition to gold refining, Giant Equipment and Machine’s Limited owns a gold processing plant equipped with machinery capable of handling 650 kilogrammes of carbon per batch.
The firm is also engaged in the supply of industrial chemicals, protective equipment, and financial support for small-scale miners.
The completion of this refinery reflects the government’s continued commitment to adding value to Tanzania’s mineral resources and to implementing the mining sector’s strategic agenda.
The facility was among the initiatives mentioned by the minister for Minerals in the 2025/26 budget speech, and its near-completion demonstrates the government’s delivery within the first quarter of the financial year.
Besides creating jobs and stimulating Chunya’s local economy, the refinery is expected to generate substantial revenues through taxes and levies, benefiting both the central government and the Chunya District Council.
Chunya District Commissioner, Mr Mbarak Alhaji Batenga, speaking with Madini Diary on 9 October 2025, said the refinery would greatly enhance the value of locally produced gold and strengthen the region’s self-sufficiency across the mining value chain.
“I commend the management of this refinery for recognising this opportunity in light of Chunya’s mining potential,” he said.
The completion of the Giant Equipment and Machine’s Limited refinery brings the total number of operational gold refineries in Tanzania to eight, marking yet another step in the country’s pursuit of a robust, value-driven mining sector.
