[PRESSWIRE] Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania – 1 February 2026 — Tanzania is reshaping its mining sector to prioritize domestic processing and industrial development, a strategic shift that could strengthen its integration into Asian manufacturing and mineral supply chains.
By moving beyond raw commodity exports, the country is positioning itself as a potential regional hub for value-added mineral products.
The East African nation possesses significant deposits of gold, diamonds, tanzanite, graphite, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth minerals, all of which play critical roles in electronics, battery production, industrial manufacturing, and construction across Asia.
Lithium and graphite, in particular, are key inputs for lithium-ion batteries, powering electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, and high-tech electronics, while nickel and cobalt feed into battery cathode production.
Gold and gemstones such as tanzanite, ruby, and sapphire continue to serve traditional industrial, investment, and luxury markets.
Historically, much of Tanzania—s mineral output was exported in raw form, which limited domestic value capture, industrial linkages, and revenue retention.
Under its National Development Vision 2050, the government is aiming to reverse this trend, encouraging domestic beneficiation and the creation of local industrial capacity.
To support this transformation, Tanzania has implemented policy and legal reforms designed to discourage the export of unprocessed minerals and encourage local processing. Measures include export controls, fiscal incentives for in-country mineral refining, and strengthened oversight by the Mining Commission.
According to officials, the strategy seeks to integrate mining with manufacturing and establish Tanzania as a regional processing base capable of serving East and Central Africa.
—Our focus is no longer just extraction; it is about building industries around our minerals, creating sustainable economic value, and linking mining to industrialisation,— stated a government official.
By embedding value addition into policy, the country is signaling to investors that mineral processing is a national priority, creating opportunities for downstream industries such as gold refining, gemstone cutting and polishing, and the manufacture of intermediate and finished mineral products.
Battery minerals, particularly graphite and lithium, are attracting growing attention as Asia—s electric vehicle and energy storage sectors expand rapidly.
Investing in production certainty and traceability
Tanzania is also investing in geoscientific infrastructure to strengthen mineral verification, quality control, and market transparency.
A state-of-the-art mineral analysis laboratory is under construction in Dodoma at a cost of 14.3 billion shillings, complemented by regional labs in Geita and Chunya.
Between July and December 2025, nearly 19,700 mineral samples were analyzed by government facilities, improving confidence in mineral grading, quality, and valuation.
For Asian manufacturers and global supply chains, such infrastructure reduces quality-related risks and enhances production certainty, key considerations in sourcing minerals for high-value industrial applications.
Transparent verification also facilitates compliance with ESG standards, which are increasingly required by international investors and corporate procurement policies.
Expanding markets and infrastructure
To formalize mineral trade, Tanzania has expanded gemstone auctions in partnership with the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange. By December 2025, three auctions generated sales worth 2.74 billion shillings, with government revenues exceeding 247 million shillings.
This approach draws lessons from Botswana and South Africa, where structured trading systems and domestic beneficiation have strengthened national returns and market confidence.
In addition to market reforms, the government is investing in industrial infrastructure, including power generation, transport networks, ports, and railways, to support industrial-scale mineral processing.
Speaking in January 2026, Minister of Minerals Antony Mavunde highlighted progress on laboratory facilities, renewable energy briquette plants in Tabora and Dodoma, expanded geological surveys, and the installation of 32 seismic monitoring stations to enhance safety and operational sustainability.
Strategic implications for Asian supply chains
Tanzania—s evolving mining strategy presents clear opportunities for Asian economies that rely on stable, high-quality mineral inputs.
By offering domestic processing capacity, reliable verification systems, and growing industrial infrastructure, the country positions itself as a long-term partner for manufacturers in China, Japan, South Korea, and beyond.
Downstream processing reduces exposure to volatile raw material markets, provides traceable and certified products, and offers potential for joint ventures in battery material production, electronics, and high-value mineral manufacturing.
With manufacturing contributing roughly 8.1% of GDP and expanding at about 8% annually, authorities are seeking to deepen linkages between mining, industry, and export markets.
This integration not only creates local employment and skills development but also helps stabilize revenues and improve economic resilience.
By moving up the value chain, Tanzania aims to capture more of the economic benefits from its natural resource endowment while supporting regional industrialisation.
A shift from raw exports to industrial partnership
Tanzania—s strategy marks a decisive departure from its traditional role as a raw material exporter. By embedding value addition into policy, infrastructure, and market mechanisms, the country is building the foundations of a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive mining sector.
For Asian investors and manufacturers, this signals a clear opportunity: Tanzania is not merely a source of raw minerals but a platform for downstream processing, manufacturing, and long-term industrial collaboration.
As the country advances toward its Vision 2050 objectives, reforms are expected to unlock greater value from its mineral resources, support industrialisation, and strengthen Tanzania—s emergence as a key player in Africa—s evolving economic landscape.
For Asia, this translates into potential supply security, industrial partnerships, and access to minerals critical for technology, energy storage, and high-value manufacturing.
———— Tanzania is transitioning from a raw-mineral export model towarddomestic beneficiation, mineral processing, and industrial integration, in line with itsNational Development Vision 2050.
———— The reforms aim to position Tanzania as aregional hub for value-added mineral products, servingEast and Central Africawhile linking intoAsian manufacturing and battery supply chains.
———— Tanzania hosts commercially significant deposits ofgold, diamonds, tanzanite, graphite, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth minerals, all of which are essential toelectronics, electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, construction, and industrial manufacturing.
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