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Tanzania has firmly positioned itself as a key player in the global energy transition, showcasing its vast reserves of critical minerals at the recent Tanzania Mining and Investment Forum 2024. The conference, held at the Julius Nyerere Convention Center, drew over 1,500 delegates from across the globe, highlighting the nation’s strategic importance in the evolving landscape of resource extraction.
While Tanzania has long been celebrated for its precious minerals, this year’s forum placed a spotlight on the country’s abundant reserves of critical minerals essential for renewable energy technologies. Tanzanite, diamonds, and gold took a backseat as nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements emerged as the stars of the show.
A pivotal plenary session, “Energy Transition Minerals: Focusing on midstream and downstream value addition,” chaired by Dr. Mary Stith, President of Pula Group, underscored Tanzania’s ambition to become a global mineral processing hub. The panel featured representatives from four major projects: Tembo Nickel, Helium One, Peak Rare Earths, and Pula Graphite Partners’ Ruangwa Graphite Project.
Tembo Nickel, boasting the world’s largest nickel deposit, outlined its plan to establish a refinery and mining hub, aligning with Tanzania’s “mine to metal” strategy. Peak Rare Earths detailed its staged development approach for the Ngualla Rare Earths Project, emphasizing the crucial role of rare earth elements in electric vehicles and wind turbines. Helium One, having made Tanzania’s first helium discovery, highlighted the non-substitutable uses of this vital resource in various industries.
Pula Graphite Partners showcased its Ruangwa Graphite Project, with its substantial resource estimate and proximity to a deep-water port, positioning it as a key supplier of high-grade graphite concentrate.
Dr. Stith emphasized the Tanzanian government’s supportive and open-to-dialogue approach, citing infrastructure improvements around Pula’s graphite assets as a prime example of its commitment.
“The panel, and the conference, reflect Tanzania’s progress and ambitions toward becoming a global mineral and processing hub for the energy transition,” Dr. Stith stated. “The government of Tanzania is inviting, supportive and open to dialogue.”
Panelists echoed this sentiment, commending Tanzania’s pro-mining policies, political stability, and infrastructure initiatives. They highlighted the nation’s potential to not only supply raw materials but also establish a robust downstream processing value chain.
Roy Lobow, investment analyst at DMT Kai Batla, observed that the conference sent a clear message: “Africa will be part of the energy transition, but will not be subject to upstream involvement only. There is more that Africa can offer the world apart from a diversified supply chain for raw materials.”
The forum also addressed the importance of local participation and beneficiation, with companies like DMT Kai Batla establishing joint ventures with Tanzanian partners.
With its strategic location, abundant resources, and commitment to value addition, Tanzania is poised to play a leading role in the global energy transition. The 2024 conference served as a testament to the nation’s growing influence and its ambition to become a critical minerals powerhouse.
