Tanzania is positioning itself to become a major player in the global clean energy supply chain, backed by Africa's largest graphite reserves and significant deposits of lithium and rare earth elements, as worldwide demand for critical minerals continues to accelerate.
Speaking during the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), a geologist from the Resident Mines Office in Njombe Region, Abbas Mruma, said the country's mineral wealth presents a strategic opportunity to attract investment and support industrial development linked to the global energy transition.
While briefing the Permanent Secretary in the Vice President's Office (Union and Environment), Dr Richard Stanslaus Muyungi, at the Mining Commission's pavilion, Mruma said demand for lithium has surged in recent years due to its essential role in manufacturing rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops and energy storage systems.
He said Tanzania's known lithium deposits are concentrated in Dodoma and Ikungi District in Singida Region, resources that could strengthen the country's position in the fast-growing battery minerals market.
Mruma noted that Tanzania holds the largest known graphite reserves in Africa, a mineral increasingly sought after because it is a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.
Beyond battery production, graphite is widely used in steelmaking and other industrial applications, making it one of the world's most strategic minerals.
He added that Tanzania also possesses substantial rare earth element deposits at Ngualla in Songwe Region and Wigu in Morogoro Region.
These minerals are vital in the manufacture of wind turbines, electric motors, electronics and other advanced technologies that underpin the global shift towards cleaner energy.
The growing importance of critical minerals has intensified competition among countries seeking secure and diversified supply chains, placing resource-rich nations such as Tanzania in a favourable position to attract long-term investment and develop downstream industries.
After touring the Mining Commission's exhibition, Dr Muyungi praised the commission for raising public awareness about Tanzania's mineral resources and investment opportunities.
He said public education is essential to helping citizens understand the economic value of the country's mineral wealth and the role the mining sector can play in driving industrialisation, creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic growth.
