Tanzania is taking a major step towards ensuring its mineral wealth creates more jobs, skills and industrial opportunities for citizens through plans to establish a Strategic Minerals Centre of Excellence that will focus on technology, research and value addition.
The proposed centre is expected to equip Tanzanians with specialised knowledge needed to process strategic minerals and manufacture high-value products such as electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems, reducing dependence on exporting raw minerals.
The initiative follows discussions between the Ministry of Minerals, higher learning institutions and the BRIGHT Institute of the University of North Carolina in the United States, which has presented a proposal to support the establishment of the centre.
The move comes as Tanzania continues to strengthen efforts to transform the mining sector from relying mainly on raw mineral exports to a sector that supports industrial growth, innovation and employment creation.
Opening the meeting on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Minerals, Director of Policy and Planning Augustine Olall said the proposed centre would play a key role in building local capacity and supporting the country’s industrial development agenda.
He said Tanzania’s goal is not only to extract minerals but also to develop the ability to process them and produce finished goods that generate greater economic benefits for citizens.
“The establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Tanzania is an important step in building an industrial economy based on mineral value addition. We do not want only to produce minerals; we also want to have the capacity to manufacture products from these resources,” Olall said.
He called on experts from the Ministry, universities and other stakeholders to work closely with BRIGHT Institute to ensure the initiative becomes practical and delivers benefits to Tanzanians.
The Acting Commissioner for Minerals, Engineer Moses Kongola, said the proposed centre aligns with government efforts to increase local participation in the mining value chain.
He explained that developing skills, research capacity and modern technology will enable Tanzania to benefit more from its strategic minerals, which are increasingly important in the global transition towards clean energy.
“Tanzania has placed strong emphasis on mineral processing and value addition. This centre will help build professional skills and increase the country’s ability to participate in modern clean energy technology value chains,” Engineer Kongola said.
Presenting the proposal, BRIGHT Institute Director Professor Hemali Rathnayake said Tanzania has significant deposits of minerals that are essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries and energy storage technologies.
She identified lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements among strategic minerals that could support Tanzania’s participation in the growing clean energy industry.
According to Professor Rathnayake, the main challenge is not the availability of minerals but the shortage of technical skills and advanced technology required to convert raw materials into finished products.
“BRIGHT Institute wants to support Tanzania by strengthening skills among students and lecturers through training programmes that will help develop expertise in battery technology and mineral processing,” she said.
The proposed centre is expected to create opportunities for young Tanzanians by providing specialised training, supporting innovation and preparing graduates for emerging industries linked to mining and clean energy.
The discussions, held in Dodoma on July 6, 2026, brought together representatives from key institutions including the University of Dar es Salaam School of Mines and Geology, University of Dodoma, Dodoma Mining College, Shinyanga Mining College (ESIS), National Environment Management Council, Tanzania Chamber of Mines and Eyes of Africa Refinery.
Participants discussed possible areas of cooperation, including development of training programmes, practical learning opportunities and research partnerships aimed at strengthening Tanzania’s capacity in strategic mineral technologies.
If implemented, the centre would place Tanzania among the few African countries offering specialised training in battery technology and clean energy manufacturing, while attracting investment in high-value industries.
The initiative is also expected to support the creation of skilled employment opportunities for youth, encourage technology transfer and help Tanzania secure a stronger position in the global market for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy solutions.
The Ministry of Minerals is currently assessing the proposal as it works towards establishing a partnership framework that could lead to the formal creation of the Strategic Minerals Centre of Excellence in Tanzania.
