In line with President Samia’s directive on mineral value addition
Minister Mavunde inspects construction of nickel and copper processing and smelting plant
Plant to begin production in February 2026
Small-scale miners secure a reliable market for their ore
Project cost: TZS 37 billion
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 percent 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 TZS 37 billion. 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, Hon. 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.
The plant supervisor, Hassan Ngaiza, outlined the various economic and social benefits expected from the project, including the creation of more than 300 jobs—both permanent and temporary—as well as secure markets for mineral ore and other related products.
In addition, the Chairperson of the Tanzania Small-Scale Metal Miners Association, Thobias Kente, thanked the management of Zhong Zhou plant for their strong efforts to ensure the project is completed on schedule. He emphasized that once operational, the plant will provide small-scale metal miners with a guaranteed and dependable domestic market for the raw minerals they produce.
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