Tanzania cancels 73 mining licences
DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government has revoked 73 mineral exploration and medium-scale mining licences after holders failed to rectify various legal and operational breaches.
Speaking to media outlets in Dodoma today, November 25, 2025, the Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, said many licence holders had been hoarding mineral areas, neglecting site development, failing to pay statutory fees and ignoring Local Content and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations—contrary to the Mining Act, Cap 123
He added that others failed to provide proof of expenditure on project development despite holding vast mineral areas for years without any progress.
The cancellations follow the issuance of 205 Default Notices earlier this year. Out of these, 44 exploration licence holders and 29 medium-scale mining licence holders failed to rectify their breaches, prompting immediate action by the Mining Commission.
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Mr Mavunde emphasized that all mineral licence holders must comply with the law and the conditions of their licences.
“I will not tolerate individuals who take licences and sit on them without development. I am directing the Mining Commission to fully enforce the law, issue default notices and cancel all non-performing licences without fear or favour,” he said.
The revoked licences cover 3,002 square kilometres (741,000 acres), with the minister noting that the clean-up will continue in phases to eliminate dormant licences and curb land hoarding in the sector.
He explained that by law, a licence holder is required to begin operations within 18 months after being granted a licence, but some companies issued licences as far back as 2013 have yet to commence any activity more than a decade later.
Mr Mavunde recalled that in February, the ministry issued a public notice of intended cancellations and dispatched default notices to several companies, particularly large operators that had signed agreements with the government but failed to develop their sites.
He added that following the notice, major firms such as Faru Graphite and Kabanga Nickel submitted commitments to start operations, with some already implementing them.
“This enforcement will continue. There are still many dormant licences. We will keep cleaning up the system step by step. The government cannot issue licences only for people to lock them away and hoard land. A licence is not an ornament,” he stressed.
The minister also invited all investors, including large and small, who genuinely wish to invest in the mining sector to submit complete licence applications for open areas, assuring that the government will facilitate the timely issuance of permits.
Mr Mavunde urged all existing licence holders to meet their legal obligations under the Mining Act, Cap 123.
“The Ministry of Minerals will continue to support both local and foreign investors who are committed to productive investment and contributing to national economic growth through responsible mineral extraction,” he said.
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He added that the ongoing clean-up supports President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Mining for a Brighter Tomorrow (MBT) youth initiative, which aims to create more opportunities for young Tanzanians in the mining sector.
“Many young people are unemployed, yet they wish to work in this sector. Through this clean-up and the MBT programme, we expect to address youth challenges and open more opportunities. We will continue organizing our youth into proper systems that can support their participation,” he said.
