Mtwara gains status as a new mining hub as it annually generates 8bn/-

MTWARA: MTWARA Region continues to emerge as an important hub for mining investment in the country with government revenue from the sector increasing from  1.8bn/- in 2021/22 to 7.5bn/- in 2024/25.

Mtwara Regional Resident Mining Officer, Winifrida Mrema, has explained that investment opportunities in industrial minerals, gold, gemstones and strategic minerals, the contribution of the Mtwara Port in the mining trade and the export of goods to international markets have made water a major part of the region’s output.

She said that other contributing factors include government efforts to enable small-scale miners to increase production.

She said the region has continued to emerge as an important hub for mineral investment in the country due to the presence of abundant industrial mineral resources, gems and strategic minerals, with government revenue from the sector increasing rapidly over the past three years.

Mrema said the region is best known for the presence of limestone used to produce cement at the Dangote Cement Factory, which contributes to growing the regional economy and strengthening industrial activities in the country

She said Mtwara Region is also rich in other industrial minerals including iron, copper, tin, talc as well as heavy mineral sands, which are among the strategic minerals needed in large quantities in the world in the production of various technologies including electric vehicles.

In addition, she said the Mtwara Port has continued to be an important link for trade and transportation of minerals and industrial products, where it is used to transport Dangote cement to Zanzibar and the Comoro Islands, along with the transportation of coal from the Ruvuma and Njombe regions to markets in China, India and Dubai.

In terms of investment, Mrema said Mtwara Region has great opportunities in the mining and processing of gold, copper and gemstones, especially green garnet, while encouraging local and foreign investors to take advantage of these opportunities to invest in the mining sector.

She also said the government continues to encourage investors to collaborate with small-scale miners of industrial minerals and gold and gemstones by providing them with capital, training, and technical support to increase production and improve their mining activities

And a Mining Engineer from the Office of the Mtwara Regional Resident Mining Officer, Nurah Juma, said construction minerals such as stones and pebbles mined in Chipite village in Masasi district have continued to be an important pillar for the implementation of development projects in Mtwara and Lindi regions.

He said the pebbles produced in the area are used in the construction of roads, buildings, the expansion of the Mtwara Port and airports, as well as the construction of the new Mgao Island Port, a situation that contributes to the availability of quality construction materials and stimulates economic development in the southern region.