Govt, Italian firm partner to boost mineral exploration

DODOMA: THE government, through the Ministry of Minerals, has enhanced international cooperation in mineral exploration by partnering with Italian research firm, Sismo Elettrica, to conduct advanced geological surveys aimed at accelerating the growth of the country’s mining sector.

The high-level technical meeting, chaired by Commissioner for Minerals, Dr Abdulrahman Mwanga, brought together experts from the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) and representatives from Sismo Elettrica.

It was held on October 10, 2025, at the ministry’s headquarters at Mtumba, Dodoma.

Dr Mwanga commended the Italian firm for its willingness to collaborate with the government in conducting modern geoscientific research, describing the move as a key step towards realising the national vision for sustainable mineral resource development.

“Our vision is that minerals are life and wealth. By 2030, we aim for at least 50 per cent of Tanzania’s total land area to have undergone high-resolution airborne geological surveys, compared to the current 16 per cent,” he said.

The Commissioner underscored that enhanced exploration will generate reliable geological data, strengthen investment decisions and accelerate the sector’s contribution to the national economy.

For his part, Sismo Elettrica Chief Executive Officer, Mr Francisco Cintoch, said the company brings extensive experience in mineral exploration across Africa, having successfully implemented similar projects in Ghana and Nigeria.

“We use advanced remote sensing, aerial mapping, and ground- based geophysical techniques. We believe our expertise will support Tanzania in achieving its strategic mining objectives,” he said.

Mr Cintoch further revealed that the company has signed Memoranda of Understanding with several universities to promote transparency, professionalism and knowledge sharing.

The partnerships include the University of Dar es Salaam, University of Siena and University of Florence in Italy. A lecturer from the University of Siena, Prof Ricardo Salvini, who is also a partner in the collaboration, said Sismo Elettrica applies cutting- edge technologies to deliver accurate and efficient geological findings.

“We employ high-end aerial surveys using aircraft and drones, complemented by ground geophysical measurements, to identify mineral-rich areas with precision,” he explained.