Deputy PM appeals for support to conduct geological survey

 Maureen Odunga

DEPUTY Prime Minister Dr Doto Biteko

DAR ES SALAAM: DEPUTY Prime Minister Dr Doto Biteko has appealed to development partners to support the government to obtain various geological information of

the country’s unsurveyed land so as to identify potential areas with mineral resources.

Currently, only 16 per cent of the entire country’s land has been surveyed by using the High-Resolution Geophysical Survey.

Opening the Tanzania Mining and Investment Forum (TMIF) in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, Dr Biteko who doubles as Energy Minister said the government envisions conducting geological survey in the many parts of the country by employing a state-of-the-art technology identified as “High Resolution Geophysical Survey.”

“With the information, the government will be able to identify indicators of minerals which can be found underground in the various parts of the country, making possible for a more intensive survey,” said Dr Biteko at the opening of the two-day forum where he represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The event, which is co-organised by the Ministry of Minerals in partnership with DMG Events and Ocean Business Partners, brings together over 2,000 participants from various countries across the globe.

He said information from geological survey would help researchers and investors to focus on the particular key areas, thereby, embarking on detailed mineral exploration at a reduced cost and time.

On the other hand, Dr Biteko called stakeholders in the mining sector to utilise the critical mineral resources to bring joy among the people, saying doing so comes with great benefits to their investments.

He noted that the meeting’s theme of “Unlocking Tanzania’s Future Mining Potential” aims to open up the great mineral potential available in Tanzania for investment so as to boost the socio-economic development of the country.

Now that the world is facing a climate crisis, he noted that the use of environmentally friendly technology was vital. Such technologies require critical strategic minerals including nickel, copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements (REE) which are also found in Tanzania.

“Despite the availability of strategic minerals which are currently in high demand globally, the country faces a lack of reliable geological information to be used by investors in the exploration of the minerals in various parts of the country,” he noted.

To attract investment in the mineral sector, he cited the dire need to improve available geological information.

“The mineral sector is a critical foundation to the development of any country…for our minerals to transform our economies and that of the people, there is a need to integrate the mineral sector with other sectors like agriculture, industry and using products using minerals as raw material including fertilisers, car batteries and computers among others,” said Dr Biteko indicating that the country will highly benefit from the initiative.

For his part, Minerals Minister Mr Anthony Mavunde, observed that access to geological information attracts investments in intensive mineral exploration.

“Tanzania is blessed with various mineral deposits whose development is critical in the growth of the economy of the country,” said Mr Mavunde.

In implementing its plan of securing reliable information, the ministry has come up with its Vision 2030 known as “Madini ni Maisha na Utajiri” literally translated as minerals are a way to life and wealth.

He noted that the mission aims to transform the lives of Tanzania through the various mining activities.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals, Mr Kheri Mahimbali outlined achievements recorded by the ministry including increasing the value of mineral exports from 3.1 billion US dollars (2021) to 3.4 billion US dollars (2022).

“The sector accounted for the increase in jobs from 14,308 (2021) to 16,462 jobs in 2022…the achievements have spurred a trajectory growth from 9.4 percent in 2021 to 10.9 percent in 2022,” he said.

For his part, the Director of Ocean Business Partners, Mr Abdulsamad Abdulrahim indicated that the two-day-forum attracted over 2,000 participants from over 25 countries including over 100 world class speakers featuring more than 20 sessions.