Angela Mushi
Tanzania is seeking to expand investment opportunities in its mining sector through the 2026 Tanzania Mining Investment Conference (TMIC 2026), with the government aiming to attract international investors, strengthen local expertise and increase the economic benefits derived from the country’s mineral resources.
Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde said the conference would provide an important platform for bringing together investors, mining experts and other industry stakeholders from different parts of the world to explore investment opportunities and exchange knowledge.
Speaking during an interview on Azam Media’s Morning Trumpet programme, Mavunde said TMIC 2026 is expected to attract representatives from more than 38 countries and over 30 ministers responsible for mining in their respective nations.
The participation of international delegates is expected to create opportunities for investment partnerships, technology transfer and the exchange of experience, while strengthening Tanzania’s position as a destination for mining investment.
Mavunde said the conference would also benefit local mining operators, particularly small-scale miners, by improving access to technical knowledge, modern mining technologies and potential sources of capital. These opportunities could help miners improve productivity, adopt safer working practices and increase the efficiency of their operations.
Beyond attracting new investors, the government is emphasising the importance of mineral value addition to ensure that Tanzania captures a greater share of the wealth generated from its natural resources.
Mavunde said the Mining Policy of 2009 and the Mining Act, Chapter 123, provide the framework for regulating mining activities, including mineral processing and value addition within the country.
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He stressed that expanding domestic mineral processing would help create employment, increase Tanzanians’ incomes, develop technical skills and strengthen the country’s industrial capacity.
For Tanzania, which possesses significant deposits of gold, gemstones, graphite, nickel and other minerals, greater investment in processing and refining could create opportunities for local manufacturing and related industries. Instead of exporting predominantly raw materials, the country could retain more economic value by processing minerals domestically and developing industries that use mineral products as inputs.
Such a transition, however, requires reliable electricity, modern infrastructure, skilled workers, access to finance and a predictable regulatory environment. It also requires effective environmental management and stronger participation by local businesses to ensure that the benefits of mining extend beyond extraction activities.
The minister further linked the development of the mining industry to Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, which places emphasis on economic transformation and a stronger contribution from the private sector.
He said mining has an important role to play in achieving the country’s long-term development ambitions through increased investment, production and value addition. The sector can also support government revenues, infrastructure development and the growth of businesses supplying goods and services to mining operations.
In another development, Mavunde said the government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is continuing to strengthen mineral exploration, with 10 per cent of the revenue collected by the Ministry of Minerals directed towards exploration activities.
Increased exploration could improve geological knowledge, identify additional mineral deposits and provide investors with better information when assessing potential projects. It could also support long-term planning for the sector and help Tanzania understand the extent of its mineral wealth.
As preparations for TMIC 2026 advance, the key challenge will be translating international participation into concrete investment commitments, new processing facilities, employment opportunities and improved participation by Tanzanian companies.
The conference therefore presents an opportunity for Tanzania to pursue a mining model that combines foreign investment with domestic industrial development, ensuring that mineral resources contribute more directly to economic growth and the livelihoods of its people.
