Tanzania seeks Russian investment to expand local mineral processing

By The Respondents Reporter

Tanzania has called for deeper mining cooperation with Russia, seeking investment, technology transfer and skills development to enable the country to process more of its minerals locally and retain a greater share of the value generated from its natural resources.

Deputy Minister for Minerals Steven Kiruswa said cooperation should go beyond mineral extraction and exports to include processing within producing countries, a shift that could create jobs, support industrialisation and increase government revenue.

Speaking at the Russia-Africa Raw Materials Dialogue in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Dr Kiruswa said partnerships between the two countries should deliver tangible economic benefits through investment in mineral value addition and the development of local expertise.

The dialogue, running from October 12 to 17, 2026, has brought together more than 1,000 participants from over 40 countries to discuss cooperation in the development and utilisation of mineral resources.

Dr Kiruswa said exporting raw minerals without sufficient domestic processing limited the economic opportunities available to resource-rich countries.

He emphasised the need to strengthen processing capacity in producing countries so that more economic activity, employment and industrial development could take place closer to the source of the minerals.

For Tanzania, the approach would help expand opportunities beyond mining itself, including in mineral processing and related industrial activities, while increasing the potential benefits to communities and the wider economy.

Dr Kiruswa also highlighted technology transfer and professional training as key areas of cooperation, calling for greater efforts to equip young Africans with skills in mineral exploration, mining and mineral processing.

He thanked the Russian government for providing training opportunities in modern technologies, saying the development of local expertise was important to strengthening the mining sector.

The emphasis on skills comes as Tanzania seeks to build the technical capacity needed to support more sophisticated mining operations and processing activities, reducing reliance on expertise from outside the country.

Dr Kiruswa further invited Russian companies to invest in Tanzania and speed up the implementation of mining projects for which they already hold licences.

He said the government had created a conducive environment for investors willing to comply with the country's laws and regulations.

However, he stressed that cooperation should be assessed through tangible results, including productive investments, increased mineral processing within Tanzania and the development of local professionals.

The deputy minister said such outcomes would be critical to ensuring that the country's mineral wealth generated greater economic benefits for Tanzanians.

The discussions in Russia therefore offer an opportunity for Tanzania to pursue partnerships that combine foreign capital and technology with local skills development and industrial capacity.

For the country, the central challenge is to translate investment commitments into operational projects that expand domestic processing, create employment and increase the value retained from its mineral resources.