Dodoma. The Tanzanian government has approved a landmark policy to allocate 10 percent of all mineral revenues toward funding comprehensive, high-resolution geological research across the country.
The minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, announced the historic decision in Parliament on Monday, June 22, 2026, during the debate on the national budget estimates for the 2026/2027 financial year.
Mr Mavunde stated that the move marks a significant milestone in the development of the nation’s extractive sector and will drastically enhance Tanzania’s understanding of its subterranean mineral wealth.
Tanzania has made steady progress in foundational geological mapping since initial surveys began between 1978 and 1979.
To date, the country has achieved 97 percent coverage in basic geological mapping, 24 percent in geochemical surveys, and 100 percent coverage in low-resolution surveys.
However, the minister emphasised that modern technological advancements and the evolving demands of the global mining market necessitate more advanced, high-resolution surveys.
These detailed assessments are critical for accurately identifying mineral indicators and the specific rock fractures that host valuable resources.
Despite Tanzania spanning a total land area of 945,000 square kilometres, high-resolution comprehensive research has only been conducted across 16 per cent of the country.
The remaining 84 percent of the nation’s territory has yet to undergo this advanced level of geological scrutiny.
Mavunde highlighted that this financial commitment represents a turning point in the century-long history of the Geological Survey of Tanzania, which was established 101 years ago.
He credited the breakthrough to the strategic vision of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, noting that the 10 percent revenue ring-fencing was formally approved within the central government budget presented by the Ministry of Finance.
The ministry of Minerals expects this sustainable funding model to drive the discovery of new mineral-rich greenfield sites, stimulate substantial foreign direct investment, and ultimately increase the mining sector’s overall contribution to the national economy.
