East African Mining News Unearthing Mining Opportunities in East Africa
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With billions flowing through mining procurement each year, the sector holds real power to build local industry, from the equipment and materials to the technical services that keep operations running. Geofields Tanzania Limited’s new wire mesh manufacturing plant in Kerege, Bagamoyo, signals a push to capture more of that value within Tanzania while strengthening the country’s industrial base.
Inaugurated by Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde on 17 October 2026, the facility has an annual production capacity of 100,000 pieces of wire mesh for mining operations. The investment is expected to support local supply, create employment and develop manufacturing expertise in a sector whose economic footprint extends well beyond mineral extraction.
The government is seeking to increase Tanzanian businesses’ participation in mining through local procurement, strategic partnerships and capacity building. At the plant’s inauguration, Mavunde directed the Mining Commission, the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to inspect joint-venture companies supplying services to mining operations, with a focus on registration and regulatory compliance.
He also challenged local businesses to pool capital, strengthen partnerships and build competitive enterprises capable of securing mining contracts. Mavunde put procurement opportunities associated with the sector at approximately TSh5.1 trillion. The source material also refers to no more than six companies in connection with this figure but does not explain the relationship. That detail should be verified before publication.
Geofields Tanzania, which also has a presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is seeking to expand across African markets. Its manufacturing base could provide a platform for regional trade in mining supplies, although the company’s export plans and target markets have not been specified. The investment aligns with Tanzania’s broader ambition to retain more mining expenditure domestically by building local production capacity, encouraging technology transfer and developing businesses further along the supply chain.
