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  • Government of Tanzania

Local Content Reforms Lift Tanzanian Jobs and Procurement in Mining Sector

  • [PRESSWIRE] Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – 7th January, 2026 — Tanzania has expanded local content requirements in its mining sector, reserving 20 categories of goods and services for companies that are wholly owned by Tanzanians, the government said on Tuesday, as it seeks to deepen domestic participation in the industry.

The minister for minerals, Anthony Mavunde, said in the capital Dodoma that the move follows amendments to the 2018 Local Content Regulations and is aimed at ensuring more of the value generated by mining remains in the country.

Under a new provision, Regulation 13A, mining companies are required to source specified products and services exclusively from 100% Tanzanian-owned firms. The Mining Commission published the first list of reserved services on Nov. 14, 2025, marking the start of implementation, Mavunde said.

Local procurement has already increased significantly, according to government data. Purchases from Tanzanian companies rose to 4.41 trillion Tanzanian shillings ($Xbn) out of total procurement of 5 trillion shillings in 2024, from 1.85 trillion shillings out of 3.01 trillion shillings in 2018, lifting the local share to 88% from 62%.

Government revenue from mining has also grown. Collections rose to 1.071 trillion shillings in the 2024/25 financial year, exceeding the target by more than 7%, from 526.7 billion shillings in 2020/21. Between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, the sector generated 653 billion shillings, or 54.4% of the 1.2 trillion shillings targeted for 2025/26.

Employment of Tanzanians in mining projects increased to 18,853 out of 19,356 jobs by December 2024, up from 6,668 out of 7,003 positions in 2018, the minister said.

Mavunde said succession planning had been embedded in law for specialised roles to enable Tanzanians to replace expatriates over time. He cited the North Mara gold mine, operated by Twiga Minerals Corporation, a joint venture with Barrick Gold, where all senior leadership positions are now held by Tanzanians.

The government is also promoting downstream investment by allocating the former Buzwagi large-scale gold mine site, covering 1,331 acres, to mining support industries. Six factories are already operating there, while 15 investors have expressed interest in setting up additional plants, Mavunde said.

He urged private companies to comply with the Mining Act and local content rules, and called on Tanzanians to take advantage of opportunities created by the sector to support jobs and economic growth.

Notes to Editors

·      Tanzania has amended its 2018 Local Content Regulations, introducing Regulation 13A, which reserves 20 categories of mining goods and services exclusively for companies that are 100% Tanzanian-owned.

·      Local procurement in the mining sector has risen sharply, reaching 88% of total procurement in 2024, up from 62% in 2018, alongside significant growth in government mining revenues.

·      The reforms aim to boost jobs, skills transfer and downstream industries, with succession planning mandated for specialised roles and former mining sites, including Buzwagi, repurposed for mining support industries.

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