Historic Milestone! Tanzania labels high-quality mineral lab

DODOMA: THE construction of the high-quality testing mineral laboratory in Dodoma has been described as a historic milestone in the country’s mineral sector, the Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, said in Dodoma, today, August 25.

Minister Mavunde, who laid the foundation stone for the 14.3bn/- state-of-the-art mineral sample testing laboratory in Kizota, Dodoma, said the lab is set to be the largest of its kind in East and Central Africa. The laboratory will provide fast, high-quality testing services to miners and investors, both locally and internationally.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Mavunde hailed the project as a historic milestone, coming 100 years after the establishment of the Geological Survey and Mining Research Institute (GST) in 1926.

“This laboratory will eliminate guesswork in mining, reduce costs, and save time for Tanzanians. It will also boost growth and development in the mineral sector,” he said.

He noted that the government has allocated a significant portion of the budget to mineral research. “The GST is the heart of the Ministry of Minerals. We are committed to conducting in-depth research to assist Tanzanian miners and guide the sector properly,” he added.

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Minister Mavunde revealed that the government has approved helicopters for preliminary geophysical surveys covering 168,774 square kilometres, about 18 per cent of Tanzania’s land area, as part of efforts to advance mineral research.

He urged contractors to execute the project with professionalism and diligence so that Tanzanians can reap the benefits of quality work.

Acting GST Director General, Dr. Notka Batenze, said the laboratory will benefit mineral sector stakeholders and facilitate access to this crucial service, which is vital for sector development.

“Mineral laboratories are key in ensuring research is complete and results are accurate and reliable, enabling sound investment decisions in sectors including mining,” he said.

Dr. Batenze added that the new facility was constructed to address challenges at the existing laboratory, including outdated infrastructure that cannot keep pace with modern mineral sample analysis.

“The current laboratory’s small size and city location limit services and create environmental issues, such as noise in some testing areas,” he noted.

Covering 8,258.3 square metres, the new laboratory will be the largest in East and Central Africa and the second largest in Southern Africa after Mintek Laboratory in South Africa. The project is expected to be completed within 18 months.