Tanzania and Russia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in mineral research and exploration, focusing on expanding geological surveys, capacity building, and attracting investment in strategic minerals, including bauxite.
The discussions took place on June 5, 2026, in Moscow during the official state visit of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, where the Minister for Minerals, Anthony Peter Mavunde, held talks with senior officials from the Government of the Russian Federation led by the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (Minerals), Dmitry Dmitrievich Tetenkin.
The meeting focused on expanding cooperation between the Geological Survey institutions of both countries and advancing joint scientific work in mineral exploration and geoscience technologies.
Minister Mavunde highlighted that Tanzania’s mineral sector continues to grow rapidly, but only about 16 percent of the country has so far been covered by detailed geological surveys.
He said expanding exploration coverage would unlock more accurate data on mineral deposits and significantly increase investor confidence.
“With the continued growth of our mining sector, Tanzania has only managed to conduct detailed geological exploration in about 16 percent of its territory. Expanding this coverage will provide more reliable data on mineral deposits and open wider investment opportunities,” he said.
He emphasized that geological research presents a major entry point for strengthened cooperation between Tanzania and Russia, noting Russia’s advanced experience in geological mapping, laboratory analysis, and modern exploration technologies.
A key part of the discussions involved the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) and a Russian university, which has not yet been finalized.
Minister Mavunde urged the Russian side to accelerate the process so that implementation can begin, enabling joint research and technical collaboration.
He also called for enhanced capacity building for Tanzanian experts in geological research and laboratory technologies, stating that access to advanced skills and modern equipment would accelerate the development of the mining sector.
On his part, Deputy Minister Tetenkin expressed appreciation for Tanzania’s continued cooperation with Russia across various economic sectors and reaffirmed his government’s readiness to deepen collaboration in mineral exploration.
He said Russia is prepared to support Tanzania in geological research and technical training for experts, emphasizing that stronger institutional partnerships would benefit both countries.
He further suggested that, in addition to the MoU between technical institutions, a broader intergovernmental agreement between the ministries responsible for minerals in both countries should be developed to clearly define shared priorities and implementation goals.
In a separate engagement, Minister Mavunde also held discussions with Sergey Chestnoy, Director of International Affairs at RUSAL, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers.
During the talks, Mavunde invited RUSAL to consider investing in Tanzania’s bauxite value chain, including detailed exploration and potential mining development.
He noted that bauxite remains one of the strategic minerals that could significantly contribute to Tanzania’s industrialization agenda through value addition and downstream processing.
The meetings underscore Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to attract strategic partners in the mining sector while leveraging international expertise to strengthen geological knowledge and unlock the country’s untapped mineral wealth.
