Geita refinery assured of steady gold supply

DODOMA: MINISTER for Minerals, Mr Anthony Mavunde has said that the government is addressing the need for a consistent supply of raw gold (feedstock) to ensure the efficient operation of Geita Gold Refinery (GGR).

He said at a seminar organised for the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals in Dodoma on Wednesday that the Ministry of Minerals has been actively implementing strategies aimed at securing a steady flow of raw materials for the refinery in Geita Region.

He said that the government has already engaged with the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) and other key stakeholders to establish a structured system for accessing capital through the Export Credit Guarantee Scheme.

Furthermore, he said that the government is actively encouraging smallscale miners to sell their gold to local refineries, including GGR.

“This initiative aims to help miners secure better prices, reduce transportation costs, and benefit from tax reductions on gold refined within Tanzania,” Minister Mavunde said.

He stressed that the government’s priority is to ensure that minerals extracted in Tanzania undergo value addition domestically before reaching the international market.

“This approach is expected to increase government revenue, create job opportunities for Tanzanians, and support related industries such as banking and mining equipment manufacturing,” he said.

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Minister Mavunde also said that GGR is a state-ofthe-art facility with international standards, significantly transforming Tanzania’s mining sector.

“We are proud that Tanzania now has world-class gold refining infrastructure, further enhancing our country’s reputation in the global mineral market,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr Steven Kiruswa, stressed that while the government remains committed to protecting and supporting local mineral refining industries, it is also vital for these industries to conduct thorough market research and develop competitive business strategies.

He urged the marketing departments of these refineries to explore innovative ways of attracting more raw gold suppliers, while adhering to ethical and internationally accepted standards.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary for the docket, Engineer Yahya Samamba, elaborated on the business friendly policies the government has introduced to ensure an adequate supply of feedstock for GGR.

These policies include reducing the total taxation on refined gold in Tanzania to 6.3 per cent, down from the 9.3 per cent taxation in other markets.

“This measure aims to encourage small and medium-scale miners to sell their gold to local refineries like GGR, rather than exporting unrefined gold to other markets,” Eng Samamba explained.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals Dr Mathayo David, commended Ms Mwanahamisi Masasi, popularly known as Mama Masasi, for her visionary investment in the Geita Gold Refinery project.

Dr Mathayo said, “This investment is historic and highly beneficial to Tanzania’s economy, particularly in the mining sector. The government must continue to promote similar investments in other minerals to ensure that Tanzania fully benefits from its vast mineral resources.”