Tabora. The Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, has launched the Rafiki Briquettes factory in Tabora Region and directed the board of the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) to scale up coal production at its Kiwira mine.
He said the move forms part of the government’s broader strategy to expand access to clean cooking energy and reduce reliance on firewood and traditional charcoal.
Commissioning of the plant, which has a production capacity of 20 tonnes per day, on February 21, 2026, Mr Mavunde said the factory would help curb deforestation while supporting tobacco curing in the region.
He added that the project’s implementation is part of directives issued by Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, on the adoption of alternative energy sources for tobacco curing.
The minister said the factory, built at a cost of Sh3 billion, would directly benefit tobacco farmers who produce an average of 95,000 tonnes annually and had previously depended heavily on firewood.
He noted that the abundant coal reserves at Kiwira would also contribute to increased electricity generation, reinforcing the role of coal in the country’s energy mix.
Mr Mavunde stressed that the use of polluting energy sources carries serious health and environmental risks.
He said the government aims to ensure that more than 84 per cent of citizens use clean and safe energy by 2034.
He urged STAMICO to accelerate production at Kiwira to meet the growing demand for alternative fuels and support national efforts to transition to cleaner energy systems.
Value addition and clean energy agenda
For his part, the managing director of State Mining Corporation, Dr Venance Mwasse, said the launch of the factory advances national priorities on mineral value addition and the promotion of clean cooking energy.
He said the corporation already operates a joint-venture gold refinery, the Mwanza Precious Metals Refinery, and has now expanded into the production and distribution of Rafiki Briquettes using coal sourced from Kiwira.
Dr Mwasse added that the initiative demonstrates STAMICO’s growing role in supporting sustainable industrial development while contributing to environmental conservation and improved public health.
