MINING
The opportunities in mining have thus far been the best exploited. Today Tanzania is among the countries which host the most vibrant exploration and mining scene in Africa. It is the fastest growing sector in Tanzania in terms of its contribution to GDP and its share of exports. The nation has many resources including gold.
Tanzania is the third largest gold producer in the continent after South Africa. Mining has attracted international interest with a large amount invested in exploration for gold, base metals and diamonds. Companies from Australia,
South Africa and Canada have invested in the gold sector as Tanzania is becoming one of Africa’s major producers.
Mineralisation in Tanzania falls into the following major geological groupings: -
• Gold occurrences in the Archaean greenstone belts and banded
iron formations in the Southern and Eastern parts of Lake Victoria;
• Gold and base metals occurrences in the Proterozoic Ubendian
system in Western Tanzania;
• Nickel, cobalt, copper, tin and tungsten-bearing rock formations in the
Karagwe Ankolean system of Northwest Tanzania;
,
• Major gemstone occurrences in the Proterozoic Usagaran and
Ubendian geological systems;
• Carbonatites associated with the Rift Valley system
• Iron ore hosted by anorthositic intrusives in the Proterozoic
Ubendian system;
• Coal resources found in the Karroo system;
• Evaporites deposited in the Rift Valley and younger rock formations along
the coastal belt; and ,
• A variety of industrial minerals such as kaolin, mica, phosphate, magnesite, beach sands and diatomites embedded in different rock formations.
Tanzania has many energy resources which include natural gas, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, coal, solar and wind power. Much of this energy potential remains unexploited although the government hopes to change this situation and is promoting the expansion of this industry. This is part of an active policy by the government to replace imported petroleum products with locally produced products.
Tanzania has excellent opportunities for oil and gas exploration and development in its mostly unexploited but potential sedimentary basins. Geological experts have long suspected that there are considerable reserves off the coast of Tanzania.
The Government offers competitive terms of would be investors including economic, legal and fiscal incentives
