Kisarawe District is emerging as a key centre for explosives manufacturing in Tanzania, with two factories expected to significantly increase domestic production and reduce the mining sector’s dependence on imports.
The development comes as the Government pushes for greater local manufacturing and value addition in the mining industry, with Ideal Detonators Tanzania Limited and Solar Intracom Chemicals Limited investing in production facilities in the district.
Ideal Detonators, which has invested more than Sh15 billion, has the capacity to produce 84,000 tonnes of explosives and 50,000 explosive units annually. Solar Intracom Chemicals has an annual capacity of 25,000 tonnes of explosives and 15,000 explosive units.
Deputy Minister for Minerals Dr Steven Kiruswa said the investments could help address a significant gap between local production and demand, particularly from the country’s growing mining industry.
Speaking during a visit to Kisarawe to inspect mining activities and investment projects, Dr Kiruswa said Tanzania’s annual demand was estimated at 79,548.22 tonnes of explosives and 29,663.17 explosive units.
“Blasting materials are important in mining because they enable miners to access mineral deposits. Producing these products locally will increase availability and reduce dependence on imports,” he said.
While the new investments are expected to boost domestic supply, investors have raised challenges that could affect the sustainability of local production.
Solar Intracom Chemicals cited difficulties in accessing the domestic market, while Ideal Detonators raised concerns over delays in clearing imported equipment at the port.
Dr Kiruswa said the Government would work with relevant authorities and stakeholders to address the concerns.
He said ensuring locally produced goods have access to the domestic market was important if Tanzania was to achieve its industrialisation and value-addition objectives.
The Deputy Minister said the Government had previously intervened to resolve challenges affecting other manufacturing industries and would similarly work to address obstacles facing explosives manufacturers.
Dar es Salaam and Pwani Resident Mining Officer Engineer Lameck Gabote said Tanzania currently has eight small and medium-sized factories producing an average of 49,000 tonnes of explosives and 950,000 explosive units annually.
Despite this output, he said local production was still insufficient to meet the requirements of the mining industry.
“Despite this production, it does not meet the annual demand for explosives used in the country’s mines,” Eng Gabote said.
Pwani Region has four explosives manufacturing factories, two of which are located in Kisarawe.
The figures highlight the potential market for the new investments, particularly as Tanzania seeks to expand mineral production while increasing the participation of local manufacturers in the mining value chain.
Kisarawe District Commissioner Petro Magoti said the district was ready to accommodate more industrial investments, pointing to the availability of industrial and construction minerals, land, electricity, water and transport infrastructure.
He said Ideal Detonators was among the major investments of its kind in East Africa, with the district also expecting four more factories targeting the production of various goods, including steel reinforcement bars, speakers and poultry hatchery equipment.
“Kisarawe has industrial and construction minerals, areas for establishing factories, electricity, water and enabling transport infrastructure. We are ready to receive more investment,” Mr Magoti said.
According to information provided by the companies, each of the two factories has already created about 250 jobs for Tanzanians, providing a direct economic benefit to local communities.
Solar Intracom Chemicals was launched by Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde on August 14, 2026 and has since started production.
Ideal Detonators is expected to start production in September, potentially making Kisarawe an increasingly important link in Tanzania’s mining supply chain.
Beyond meeting the mining sector’s demand, the investments put the Government’s local-content agenda to the test particularly whether domestic manufacturers can secure a reliable market, access imported machinery efficiently and compete sustainably while creating more jobs and retaining value within the country.
