The Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the smooth operation of the Geita Gold Refinery (GGR) by securing a sufficient supply of raw gold (feedstock).
Speaking on February 11, 2025, in Dodoma during a seminar organized for the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, he emphasized that the Ministry of Minerals is implementing strategic measures to facilitate this process.
Mavunde revealed that the government has already engaged in discussions with the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) and other key stakeholders to establish a sustainable financing mechanism for Tanzanian investors through the Export Credit Guarantee Scheme.
Additionally, he highlighted ongoing efforts to encourage small-scale miners to sell their gold to domestic refineries such as GGR.
This approach not only ensures better prices for miners but also reduces transportation costs and allows them to benefit from lower levies on gold refined within the country.
The minister underscored the government’s broader vision of ensuring that minerals extracted in Tanzania undergo value addition domestically.
This initiative aims to enhance government revenue, create employment opportunities, and boost related sectors such as banking and mining equipment manufacturing.
He emphasized that GGR is a world-class facility that has significantly transformed the country’s mining industry.
“We are proud to see Tanzania equipped with state-of-the-art gold refining infrastructure, which strengthens our position in the global minerals market,” said Mavunde.
Addressing the Parliamentary Standing Committee, he reiterated that the government takes great pride in the presence of mineral value addition industries, which are key to ensuring that Tanzania’s natural resources benefit its citizens to the fullest extent.
One of the sector’s most notable achievements, he said, is the establishment of the Geita Gold Refinery, a modern facility that has reinforced the country’s economic position.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr. Steven Kiruswa, stressed the importance of refinery marketing departments adopting competitive strategies to attract a steady supply of raw materials while maintaining ethical business practices.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Minerals, Engineer Yahya Samamba, further elaborated on the government’s commitment to supporting GGR by fostering a business-friendly environment for gold miners.
As part of these efforts, the government has reduced levies on gold refined in local facilities, bringing them down to 6.3% compared to the 9.3% imposed in other markets.
He explained that this policy aims to encourage small- and medium-scale miners to sell their gold to domestic refineries rather than exporting unprocessed minerals.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, Dr. Mathayo David, applauded Ms. Mwanahamisi Masasi, widely known as Mama Masasi, for her significant contributions to the Geita Gold Refinery project.
He commended her determination and bold investment, describing the refinery as a historic achievement with substantial economic benefits.
He urged the government, through the Ministry of Minerals, to continue promoting similar investments in other mineral processing industries to ensure Tanzania fully capitalizes on its mineral wealth.