Upendo Group Limited, a coal mining company operating in Muze, Sumbawanga District in Rukwa Region, will begin formal production at the end of December, with plans to produce 10,000 tonnes of coal per month for both domestic and regional markets.
The announcement was made during a working visit by the Rukwa Regional Resident Mining Officer, Engineer Joseph Kumburu.
Company Director, Cassiano Kaegele, said the firm intends to supply coal to neighbouring countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Zambia countries strategically positioned close to the mine.
Kaegele said the project is expected to lower sourcing costs for buyers who currently depend on coal transported from distant regions such as Ruvuma and Njombe.
He added that the new operations will stimulate local economic activity and create market opportunities within Rukwa and nearby regions.
Upendo Group operates within an area that holds 33 small-scale mining licences and has already employed 34 permanent workers.
The firm is also working with surrounding communities to improve public infrastructure, particularly schools and road networks.
Domestically, demand for coal is expected to rise in regions such as Dodoma, Mwanza, and Kigoma, where industrial and commercial users are expanding.
Kaegele also noted the growing interest among young people to participate in mining activities, particularly in roles that do not require advanced technical expertise an opportunity that he believes will broaden employment and raise household incomes.
On his part, Engineer Kumburu continued to provide guidance on investment opportunities in the mining sector.
He underscored the need for stronger cooperation between the Government and private investors to increase the sector’s contribution to national economic growth.