DODOMA: TANZANIA continues to make significant progress in its programme to establish mineral value-addition industries, with the construction of a new nickel and copper processing and smelting plant now 85 per cent complete.
The project is part of the implementation of directives by President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan that all mineral value-addition activities be carried out within the country before export.
This was revealed on 21 November 2025 by the Minister for Minerals, Hon. Anthony Mavunde, during an inspection tour of the nickel and copper processing and smelting plant located in the Mayamaya area, Bahi District, in Dodoma Region.
Hon. Mavunde stated that the plant is expected to commission its first production line in February 2026, with an initial capacity to process 300 tonnes of ore per day.
Speaking about the investment value of the project, the Minister explained that the plant represents a major investment which, upon completion, will have cost 37bn/-.
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He urged small-scale miners across the country to take advantage of this opportunity by supplying raw materials to the plant, noting that it offers a reliable, structured market.
Expounding on the broader objective behind establishing mineral processing and value-addition plants, Mr Mavunde stressed that the key goal is to ensure Tanzania completes the entire mineral value chain from extraction to processing and value addition so that the country exports finished mineral-based products instead of raw minerals, as was the case in the past.
For his part, the District Commissioner for Bahi, Hon. Joachimu Nyingo, commended the Government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan for continuing to attract mining investors to Dodoma Region, noting that this latest project brings the number of mineral value-addition plants in the region to nine.