Tanzania cancels 40 mineral exploration licenses
DODOMA: THE MINISTER of Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, has directed the Minerals Commission to cancel a total of 40 mineral exploration licenses that have failed to develop the licenses to strengthen the management of mineral resources and remove owners who do not comply with the terms of the licenses.
Mavunde also warned that the government would not tolerate negligence that hindered the development of the mining sector and the economy in general.
Minister Mavunde announced the decision today in Dodoma while speaking to journalists, explaining that the licenses have been cancelled after their owners failed to develop them despite being given error letters and time to correct the defects identified and that they will be returned to the Government for setting up a mechanism for distributing them to small-scale miners, willing investors and groups of Women and Youth through the Mining for A Brighter Tomorrow-MBT Program.
He said that a detailed assessment conducted by the Ministry of Minerals has shown the existence of serious violations of license conditions, including some owners hoarding areas without developing them, failure to pay due fees, failure to implement the obligation of participation of Tanzanians (Local Content), as well as failure to implement social responsibility (CSR) projects.
“There are those who own licenses but do not make any visible investment, nor prove the use of funds in developing their areas. This situation can not be allowed to continue,” said Mavunde.
According to Minister Mavunde, acts of hoarding licenses have been a major source of conflict and inciting illegal mining, a situation that threatens the safety of citizens, the environment, and government revenues.
“These 40 licenses are equivalent to an area of 900 square kilometres, equivalent to 188,163 hectares,” Mavunde emphasised.
In another step, the Government, through the Minerals Commission, has issued certificates of defects for another 43 licenses, including 40 exploration licenses and three medium mining licenses, with their owners being required to rectify the defects within 30 days.
Mavunde has stressed that if the conditions are not implemented within the specified time, the licenses will be revoked, and the relevant areas will be given to other investors who are capable of developing them.
Speaking about the trend of explosions of gold mining areas in various parts of the country, Minister Mavunde has issued a stern warning to people who invade areas with valid licenses, claiming to follow information about the presence of minerals.
He has stated that any mining without a license is illegal and will not be tolerated, noting that such actions have led to conflicts between miners and legal owners, as well as environmental damage and health risks.
Mavunde has noted that the Government has put in place strong strategies to address the situation, including controlling the safety of citizens and their property, preventing ownership conflicts, protecting the environment against illegal mining, and controlling disease outbreaks in areas with high concentrations of miners.
In addition, Mavunde has condemned the increasing behaviour of some small-scale miners to invade areas with legal licenses, stating that strict legal action will be taken against all who violate the law.
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“From now on, it is prohibited to invade licensed areas for any reason. The government will not hesitate to take strict action against all those involved,” Minister Mavunde has emphasised.
The move to cancel 40 licenses indicates the government’s firm stance to develop the mining sector against negligence and illegal acts while opening a new page of accountability and fair competition in the use of national resources.
