Cape Town. Tanzania’s mining sector has continued to demonstrate steady growth and strategic strengthening following a series of engagements between the Ministry of Minerals and international stakeholders at the ongoing Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town.
Discussions held on February 11 reflected the government’s firm commitment to improving the investment climate, expanding the participation of local communities, women and youth, and ensuring that mineral resources contribute meaningfully to the national economy and sustainable development.
The talks underscored Tanzania’s determination to position the mining industry as a key driver of inclusive growth.
Officials highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, strengthening governance, and accelerating project implementation.
They also emphasised the importance of partnerships in advancing technology transfer, skills development, and value addition.
EU pledges support
The European Union (EU) expressed strong interest in deepening cooperation with Tanzania across the entire mining value chain.
This includes capacity building for mining professionals, technical and vocational training, deployment of modern technologies, and improved management of geological data and statistics.
The EU noted that Tanzania stands to benefit significantly from the PanAfGeo programme, implemented through EuroGeoSurveys.
The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of geological survey institutions across Africa, including Tanzania, to support sustainable development of the mining sector.
It focuses on enhancing technical expertise, improving data management systems, and promoting best practices in geological research.
In addition, the EU pledged to collaborate with the Tanzanian government in identifying markets for minerals within Europe.
It also committed to facilitating a conducive environment for investors, particularly in projects focused on local value addition and downstream processing.
The cooperation is expected to support Tanzania’s ambition to move beyond the export of raw minerals and develop a more diversified and resilient mining industry.
EU officials said the partnership would prioritise sustainability, environmental protection, and responsible resource management.
Commitment to reforms
The minister for Minerals, Mr Anthony Mavunde, reiterated the government’s resolve to remove obstacles that delay the implementation of mining projects.
He said the administration would continue to strengthen the regulatory framework and improve the investment climate to maximise productivity and efficiency in the sector.
He stressed that the government remains committed to ensuring that mining activities deliver tangible benefits to Tanzanians.
These include employment creation, skills development, and increased government revenues.
He added that inclusive participation remains a priority, with specific focus on women, youth, and local enterprises.
Mr Mavunde also highlighted ongoing efforts to streamline licensing procedures, enhance infrastructure development, and promote the use of modern mining technologies.
These measures, he said, are intended to reduce operational costs and improve competitiveness.
Africa ready to partner with investors
In his keynote address at the opening of the second day of Mining Indaba 2026, Mr Mavunde emphasised that Tanzania, and Africa more broadly, are ready to work closely with investors and the private sector.
He said the continent seeks partnerships based on mutual benefit, shared responsibility, and long-term sustainability.
He noted that Africa is determined to shift from being a supplier of raw minerals to a producer of value-added products.
This transition, he said, is critical for industrialisation, job creation, and economic transformation.
Mr Mavunde called on investors to support initiatives that promote local processing, skills transfer, and technology adoption.
He said such investments would help unlock the full potential of Africa’s mineral wealth while ensuring broad-based development.
The Mining Indaba 2026 continues to serve as a platform for dialogue, partnership building, and policy engagement, bringing together governments, investors, and industry leaders from across the globe.
