Fifth Tanzania Mining Investment Conference

The Programme contributed to and participated in the 5th Tanzania Mining Investment Conference held in November 2024, organized by the Tanzanian Ministry of Minerals. The conference aimed to address challenges in the mining sector, particularly those related to increasing the value of minerals and attracting global investors to Tanzania.

Organized by the Ministry of Minerals, the event aimed to share firsthand experiences from various stakeholders and explore the interconnections among different players in the mining and mineral value chain. It highlighted the government’s commitment to robust practices, legal frameworks, certification mechanisms, and collaborative relationships among governments, chain of custody service providers, and companies engaged in mining, mineral processing, and export. The conference served as a platform for current and prospective investors in the mining sector, including ASM, government representatives, banks, NGOs, CSOs, and development partners, to gain comprehensive insights into Tanzania’s mining policies, investment incentives, and the government’s dedication to creating a supportive environment for sustainable mining.

The conference prominently addressed issues of artisanal and small-scale mining. It provided a key platform for publicising the findings of the Development Minerals baseline study, to spotlight the attention of decision makers on the sector, and sharing knowledge that inform policies, strategies, and programs aimed at promoting sustainability in the sector.

In particular, two key findings from the baseline study of Development Minerals in Tanzania garnered interest from both policy and regulatory perspectives, as well as from the perspective of the ASM. One finding highlighted the issue of double taxation of artisanal and small-scale miners in certain regions, where authorities in mining areas and processing areas imposed the same tax/levy. This was particularly prevalent with taxes and levies collected by local government authorities. Another finding addressed the limited capacity of the Regional Mining Offices (RMOs) in terms of staffing and equipment to effectively manage ASM operations. This limitation hampers their ability to implement programs such as extension services, health and safety inspections, environmental monitoring, and more. Addressing these issues would further advance the administration and management of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, in particular of Development Minerals, where formalization is still lagging behind, and environmentally harmful practices remain widespread.