Tanzania announces special operation to see if technical agreements in mining protect licence holders
DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government has prepared a special operation to inspect the implementation of technical assistance agreements in mining activities, as part of efforts to ensure that the agreements comply with the law and protect the interests of licence holders.
The operation will also seek to determine whether technical assistance agreements are being used to deprive licence holders of their rightful revenues and entitlements, and to take appropriate action against those found to be violating established procedures.
Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde made the remarks while presenting a report on the progress of Tanzania’s mining sector and efforts to increase domestic mineral value addition before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals.
Mavunde directed Resident Mining Officers (RMOs) to conduct regular inspections at mining sites to monitor the implementation of the agreements, identify challenges at an early stage and take action against companies or individuals found to be exploiting licence holders through technical assistance agreements.
He said such agreements should contribute to mining operations by increasing production, productivity and efficiency rather than becoming a source of disputes or reducing the benefits to which licence holders are entitled.
“The purpose of technical assistance agreements is to increase production, productivity and efficiency in mining activities, not to become a source of disputes or deprive licence holders of the benefits to which they are entitled,” he said.
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On gold production, Mavunde said Tanzania produces an average of approximately 65 tonnes of gold annually, with small-scale miners accounting for nearly 40 per cent of total production.
He said the government would continue creating an enabling environment for small-scale miners to increase production and benefit more from the gold value chain, including through technical services and the infrastructure required for mining operations.
On value addition, Mavunde said that by June 2026, local refineries had processed a total of 36,776.37 kilogrammes of raw gold.
He said the development demonstrated the strengthening of Tanzania’s domestic capacity to refine and add value to gold before it reaches local and international markets.
The government has also continued to strengthen technical services, geological research and laboratory infrastructure to improve efficiency in the mining sector and enable mining, mineral analysis and value-addition activities to be carried out in accordance with recognised standards.
