The government will use domestic revenue to finance mineral exploration across Tanzania, targeting to increase detailed geophysical survey coverage from 16 per cent to at least 50 per cent of the country's territory by 2030.
The initiative is intended to improve the identification of mineral deposits, reduce exploration risks for small-scale miners and attract investment into the mining sector.
Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde announced the plan on October 16, 2026, while presenting the implementation framework for the Mining Sector Vision 2030 to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals in Dodoma.
Under the arrangement, 10 per cent of non-tax revenue collected from the mining sector will be allocated to geological and geophysical research, following legal changes endorsed under President Samia Suluhu Hassan's administration.
Mr Mavunde said the initiative would enable the government, through the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST), to generate more accurate scientific information on the country's mineral potential.
“This extensive survey will enable the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) to obtain comprehensive and accurate geoscientific information,” he said.
“Using this data, we will be able to identify more accurately the areas suitable for investors, large-scale miners and, particularly, small-scale miners, who have been losing their capital because of a lack of scientific data.”
According to the minister, only 16 per cent of Tanzania's territory has undergone detailed geophysical surveys, leaving 84 per cent without comparable coverage.
The government aims to close part of that gap by expanding high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys, which use aircraft-mounted instruments to collect geological data over large areas and help identify structures associated with potential mineral deposits.
The target represents a significant expansion of the country's geological information base and is expected to improve decisions on where exploration activities and investment should be directed.
For small-scale miners, the availability of reliable geological data could help reduce the financial risks associated with searching for minerals without sufficient scientific evidence. Many operate with limited capital, making unsuccessful exploration particularly costly.
The initiative could also help investors assess prospective areas more efficiently, potentially reducing uncertainty during the early stages of mineral exploration.
The government's decision to finance the programme using revenue generated within the mining sector marks an effort to strengthen domestic capacity for mineral research while reducing reliance on external funding.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals has welcomed the initiative, with its Vice-Chairman, Simon Songe, emphasising the need to ensure that the findings benefit small-scale miners.
Mr Songe said the research should help miners make decisions based on scientific evidence rather than relying on guesswork when identifying areas for extraction.
He added that better geological information could support more reliable mining operations and increase government revenue by attracting investment into areas identified as having mineral potential.
The programme forms part of the Mining Sector Vision 2030, themed *Minerals for Life and Wealth*, which seeks to strengthen the mining industry's contribution to economic growth.
However, achieving the target of increasing survey coverage from 16 per cent to at least 50 per cent by 2030 will require consistent funding, effective implementation and adequate technical capacity.
Expanding survey coverage alone will not guarantee new discoveries or commercially viable mining projects. The impact will depend on the quality of the data, how quickly it becomes available and whether miners and investors can use it to guide exploration and development.
Ensuring that small-scale operators can access and understand the findings will be particularly important if the programme is to reduce their financial exposure and broaden participation in the sector.
Ultimately, the success of the initiative will be measured not only by the land area surveyed but also by whether the findings lead to new discoveries, responsible investment, employment opportunities and increased returns from Tanzania's mineral resources.