Tembo Nickel Ltd has officially confirmed its construction timeline for the much-anticipated Kabanga Nickel Project located in Ngara District, Kagera Region, marking a significant step in Tanzania’s strategic effort to boost the mining sector and attract sustainable foreign investment.
The announcement was made today in Dodoma by Mr. Chris Showalter, CEO of Lifezone Metals, the parent company of Tembo Nickel Corporation Limited, which operates as a joint venture with the Government of Tanzania.
His presentation followed a directive issued by the Ministry of Minerals requiring all holders of medium- and large-scale mining licenses to report progress on project implementation.
“Tembo Nickel confirms that the development of the Kabanga Nickel Project is on track. We expect to hold the official groundbreaking ceremony in October 2025,” said Showalter.
In parallel, according to him, the company also confirms its commitment to establishing a domestic nickel refinery to ensure value addition within the country.
The Kabanga project is poised to become one of the most significant developments in Tanzania’s mining history, and its successful implementation is expected to have a transformational impact on the national economy through job creation, technology transfer, local content, and enhanced export earnings.
Mining Minister Anthony Mavunde, who presided over the session, lauded the progress report, emphasizing that the Kabanga project stands as a flagship for the nation’s ambition to advance value addition in the extractive sector.
“The Kabanga Nickel Project is among the transformative projects that will play a pivotal role in stimulating economic development. The commitment shown by Tembo Nickel in progressing with the implementation is critical to the growth of our mining industry and national economy,” said Mavunde.
He reiterated the government’s stance that all licensed mining companies must initiate project development activities without delay, in full compliance with the Mining Act, Chapter 123.
The law obliges companies to develop their license areas in accordance with agreed-upon conditions, ensuring benefits flow to both local communities and the nation.
“We are calling upon all companies with medium and large-scale licenses to immediately begin developing their sites as per the law. Compliance is not optional; it is essential for ensuring that mining projects contribute meaningfully to our people and our country,” he stressed.
Tembo Nickel’s plans to build a local processing plant are particularly noteworthy.
In contrast to historical trends where raw minerals were exported for refining abroad, this approach aligns with Tanzania’s current policy direction aimed at maximizing resource benefits locally.
Located in northwestern Tanzania, the Kabanga deposit is recognized as one of the world’s largest undeveloped nickel sulfide resources.
Nickel is a critical mineral in the global transition to green technologies, particularly for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage systems.
By advancing this project, Tanzania is positioning itself to become a major player in the global clean energy supply chain, while ensuring its own industrial base is strengthened through mineral beneficiation.
The confirmation of a refinery is also a positive indicator of industrial linkages that can boost infrastructure, service provision, and skilled employment in the region.
The refinery is expected to process nickel concentrates into high-grade battery metals, further unlocking economic potential.
The Ministry of Minerals has recently ramped up its oversight of mining license holders to ensure compliance and active development, as part of a broader policy to stimulate investment, productivity, and transparency in the sector.
Mr. Mavunde made it clear that while the government welcomes private investment, it will not tolerate delays or speculative license-holding that stalls progress. He emphasized that the time for passive ownership is over, and that licensees must act responsibly and timely to justify the trust placed in them.
“The government is ready to work closely with genuine investors who are ready to develop projects. But there will be no room for those who delay or ignore their obligations,” Mavunde concluded.
With the groundbreaking scheduled for October 2025, and plans underway for constructing a local refinery, the Kabanga Nickel Project is shaping up to be a transformative milestone for Tanzania’s mining sector.
Its success could serve as a model for how resource-rich developing countries can harness their mineral wealth for long-term sustainable development, through not just extraction, but value addition and meaningful local impact.
As the countdown begins to October 2025, the country’s eyes and those of global investors will be firmly fixed on Ngara, where a new era in Tanzania’s mining future is about to be written.