Tanzania's National Mine Closure Committee has begun a detailed review of the closure plan for Shanta Gold Mine's New Luika operation in Songwe Region, underscoring the government's growing focus on ensuring mining companies prepare adequately for environmental restoration and community safety after extraction activities end.
The review, conducted by a team of experts from key government institutions and regulatory agencies, seeks to determine whether the mine's closure strategy complies with the requirements of the Mining Act and the Mining (Safety, Occupational Health and Environmental Protection) Regulations of 2010.
Speaking during the assessment, the committee's chairperson, Eng. Hamisi Kamando, said mine closure planning is an essential component of sustainable mining and must be integrated into operations long before mineral resources are depleted.
He explained that the review is intended to ensure that the mine has a practical and technically sound framework for rehabilitating disturbed land, managing environmental risks and protecting the health and safety of surrounding communities once mining activities eventually cease.
The exercise comes as Tanzania continues to strengthen oversight of the extractive sector to ensure that economic benefits generated by mining are not overshadowed by long-term environmental liabilities.
Under the Mining Act and Regulation 206 of the 2010 safety, health and environmental regulations, all medium and large-scale mining operations are required to prepare comprehensive mine closure plans and submit them to the Chief Inspector of Mines for technical evaluation before they can be approved by the National Mine Closure Committee.
Eng. Kamando emphasized that the committee's mandate is not to halt production activities or accelerate the closure of operating mines.
Rather, its responsibility is to assess whether mining companies have put in place credible measures for environmental restoration, infrastructure decommissioning and post-mining land management.
"A mine closure plan is a critical tool for ensuring that mining activities are carried out responsibly from start to finish," he said, noting that proper planning helps prevent environmental degradation and minimizes risks to nearby communities.
For mining companies, closure plans are increasingly viewed as a key benchmark of responsible resource development, particularly as governments and investors place greater emphasis on environmental, social and governance standards.
Shanta Gold Mine General Manager Eng. Exupery Lyimo said the company remains committed to maintaining high standards of safety, occupational health and environmental management throughout its operations.
He said the mine would fully cooperate with the committee and implement any recommendations aimed at strengthening its closure framework.
"The company is committed to continuous improvement and remains ready to incorporate the committee's guidance to ensure that its closure plan meets all regulatory requirements and international best practices," he said.
The review meeting brought together specialists from the Vice President's Office, the Ministry of Minerals, the Ministry of Water, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the National Land Use Planning Commission, the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), the Mining Commission and district government authorities.
The assessment reflects Tanzania's broader commitment to responsible mining, environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management, ensuring that mining projects leave behind rehabilitated landscapes and safe communities once operations come to an end.
