CAPE TOWN: TANZANIA and Finland have deepened their bilateral ties in the mining sector through a new cooperation framework designed to enhance technical capacity and improve the quality of geoscientific data in Tanzania.
The partnership aims to support the country’s growth by leveraging Finnish expertise to advance sustainable mining practices and data-driven decision-making.
The cooperation was formalised at the Mining Indaba Conference in Cape Town, South Africa with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST).
This move is crucial for Tanzania’s mining sector because it lays the foundation for a modern, competitive and sustainable mining sector, making Tanzania more attractive to investors, better equipped to manage its resources and capable of maximising economic and social benefits from its mineral wealth.
The MoU focuses on building the capacity of Tanzanian experts in the analysis, interpretation and validation of geoscientific information in line with international standards.
The agreement follows bilateral discussions held on Monday between the Minister for Minerals, Mr Anthony Mavunde, and Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Mr Sakari Puisto, on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba Conference.
Under the agreement, GTK and GST will collaborate in several key areas, including strengthening the technical capacity of GST professionals to operate laboratories, particularly in sample testing that meets international standards.
The two institutions will also cooperate in geoscientific research, with a focus on high-resolution geophysical surveys aimed at improving the quality and availability of mineral data in Tanzania.
The partnership is expected to enhance Tanzania’s ability to generate reliable geoscientific information, support informed decisionmaking, attract quality investment in the mining sector and contribute to the sustainable development of mineral resources.
Meanwhile, the Tanzanian delegation also held discussions with institutions from the United States, led by the Deputy Director and Head of Operations of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Mr Thomas Hardy. The talks explored potential areas of cooperation, including research and value addition for critical and strategic minerals.
Discussions further highlighted the importance of advanced geoscientific surveys, including airborne geophysical studies, as well as progress on gemstone research projects being implemented in collaboration with GST under exploration licences held by the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO).
The parties also emphasised the need to promote local mineral value addition in line with Tanzania’s Mining Act, Chapter 123. Mr Mavunde underscored the importance of in-depth geological surveys, encouraging the United States to place greater emphasis on the area to support the establishment of additional mining projects in Tanzania.
He also stressed the need to sustain collaboration with GST on advanced surveys to generate comprehensive data capable of attracting large-scale mining investments.
In another key engagement, Minister Mavunde met with representatives of the global mining company Rio Tinto, which has more than 150 years of experience and operates in about 35 countries worldwide.
Rio Tinto specialises in the exploration and value chain development of copper, bauxite (aluminium) and graphite.
During the meeting, Tanzania’s modern infrastructure, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the Tanzania–Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), the Mineral Policy, and a favourable business environment, were cited as key factors attracting Rio Tinto’s interest in investing in Tanzania’s mining sector.
Mr Mavunde advised the company to fast-track exploration activities and engage in discussions with STAMICO, which holds various exploration licences for strategic minerals.
He noted that, in line with the law, STAMICO is permitted to enter into joint ventures with both local and foreign investors, providing Rio Tinto with an opportunity to invest in mineral exploration and eventually establish a strategic mine, including the construction of a mineral value-addition plant in the country.