Small-scale miners in Simiyu seek affordable loans

BARIADI: Small-scale miners in the Simiyu Region have asked the government and financial institutions to support them by providing a reliable power supply and affordable loans to ease their mining activities.

According to the miners, the challenges have been major obstacles to increasing gold production.

Anisila Japhet, a woman miner from the Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA) in the region, stated that they have been incurring high operational costs by running their machines on diesel, adding that they use about 80 liters every 24 hours.

“A stable electricity supply would reduce costs and boost our productivity. It is through this mining that I have been able to educate my children and be independent,” she noted.

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Elaborating, TAWOMA mine manager, Paul Ntalima, noted that out of 24 production units, only 14 remain operational due to high running costs, particularly energy-related expenses.

According to Ntalima, if they could access low-interest loans and grid electricity, productivity would triple.

Additionally, he stated that the sector provides jobs to more than 400 youth and women in the area.

However, the Simiyu Regional Mining Officer, Mayigi Makolobela, said the government, in collaboration with TANESCO, is working to ensure that small-scale miners get a reliable power supply.

He said that TANESCO has pledged to extend electricity to all small-scale mining areas.

Mr Makolobela also urged financial institutions to review their lending conditions for small-scale miners, emphasizing that they have the capacity to repay loans due to the reliable market for minerals.