Energy demand: Tanzania’s transition minerals include an estimated 70-million tonnes of graphite ore , commonly used in electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. Photo suppliedast Africa’s Tanzania is one of several African countries predicting “a new dawn” for its mining industry as industrialised nations race to secure critical transition minerals to power the switch from fossil fuels to clean energy options.
Its transition minerals include an estimated 70 million tonnes of graphite, commonly used in electrodes for batteries and fuel cells, in supercapacitors for energy storage, in nuclear reactors and solar panels. At least 1.52 million tonnes of nickel ore have been confirmed in ongoing exploration works in the Kagera region in the north-west. Although no quantity estimates have been given yet for lithium, it occurs in abundance.
“While critical minerals developments have not delivered transformation yet in Africa, the dark side of the energy transition has become visible with the pollution of soils, air, water contamination, toxic residuals, intensive consumption of water and power, workplace and environmental risks, child labour, sexual abuse, corruption and armed conflict in the mining areas.
New era: Most of the transition mining projects are based in the north-west of the country, and are still at exploration and development stage. Photo suppliedCritical transition minerals investments have become a geopolitical issue, with the United States attempting to counter Chinese dominance of the sector. US companies have taken the lead in investing in lithium prospecting, and the biggest lithium concessions holders in Tanzania are US companies Titan Lithium and C-Growth.
Sheehy said the US will continue to invest in Africa’s critical minerals sector in a responsible way. “Transparency and the rule of law will be critical for African countries to attract investments. They must honour investment rules by adhering to contracts and resisting arbitrary rulings. The government is also promoting new nickel, lithium and graphite refineries in-country to promote value addition and create more jobs down the mineral value chain. A new strategy to regulate artisanal mining will be unveiled as part of broad measures to improve working conditions for artisanal and small-scale miners, Mavunde said.
The government is also working hard to prevent illegal mining and disrupt the operations of several transnational theft and smuggling syndicates which have established themselves in mining sites in the Lake Victoria basin, he added.