Mineral rights

Over the years in our jurisdiction, natural resources have been bestowed on the President of the State as a Trustee on behalf of the citizens. This reflects the intention to safeguard the national cake on behalf of all Tanzanians. In turn there has been enactment of a number of laws to regulate the operations surrounding mining activities in Tanzania.

Mining is governed by a number of natural resources laws and we shall take you through the nature of licenses and the licensing requirements in Tanzania’s mineral sector and the requirements for minerals trading in Tanzania.

Minerals Licensing

The law establishes the Minerals Commission which has been put in charge of regulating all matters relating to mineral licensing.

The following mining rights/licenses are available for persons who are prospecting to invest in the mining business:

  • Prospecting mining licenses
  • Special mining licenses
  • Mining licenses
  • Primary mining licenses

A prospecting mining license is one which allows one to enter a prospecting mining area favouring the minerals to which the license applies and carry out operations and such work as necessary for that purpose, including the removal and excavation of soil and earth. It may be applied for and issued for minerals falling under groups as specified under Mining Act (metallic minerals, energy minerals, gemstones excluding kimberlitic diamond, kimberlitic diamond, industrial minerals or building materials) and the license will state the group and type of mineral to which it applies.