[PRESSWIRE] Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – 2026-02-14 — The World Gold Council (WGC) has signalled its readiness to partner with Tanzania to strengthen the mining sector, particularly in capacity-building, technology and improved market access for small-scale miners, officials said.
The commitment followed a consultative meeting in Dar es Salaam between the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), senior government officials, and WGC Chief Executive David Tait, focused on formalisation initiatives for artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).
The Tanzanian delegation was led by the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Professor Kitila Mkumbo, along with the ministers of Minerals, Youth Development and Community Development.
“WGC is a globally respected institution in the gold industry; its willingness to collaborate with Tanzania marks a significant step forward,” said Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde, describing the organisation’s support as key to strengthening the sector, particularly the ASGM segment.
Mining is a major pillar of Tanzania’s economy, contributing about 10.1 per cent of GDP in 2024 and drawing substantial export revenues, with gold alone accounting for more than 80 per cent of mineral exports.
Mavunde noted that while Tanzania ranks among Africa’s top five gold producers, greater benefits could be realised if small-scale miners are supported with geological data, financing and modern technology.
“Our Mining Act provides for special licences dedicated to small-scale miners, demonstrating our commitment to formalisation and inclusive growth,” he said.
He said the government plans to use high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys to map at least 50 per cent of the country’s land area by 2030, providing reliable data to guide miners and investors, reduce speculation and improve productivity.
WGC’s Tait commended Tanzania for progress in formalising artisanal mining, labelling it a potential global benchmark. He stressed the importance of traceability — systems that track gold from mine sites to processing plants — which he said would boost transparency, yield and investor confidence.
“There is too much fragmentation in the gold market. We need standardised processes to give international investors confidence to invest in Tanzania and other countries,” Tait said.
Key initiatives discussed include customs orientation, formalised purchasing systems and adoption of gold-sourcing technology. Tait expressed enthusiasm about partnering with the government to implement these measures and position Tanzania as a global model for ASGM.
Minister Mkumbo reiterated Tanzania’s commitment to promoting local value addition in the mining sector, welcoming the WGC’s support. The government also highlighted ongoing engagements between the WGC Central Banks Team and the Bank of Tanzania on domestic gold-buying programmes targeting ASGM producers.
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