Tanzania Urges Africa to Process Minerals Locally

Tanzania Minerals Deputy Minister Steven Kiruswa spoke in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, advocating for on-continent mineral processing. He asserts that exporting raw materials hinders sustainable development and prevents Africa from fully benefiting from its natural resources. Kiruswa explained that local processing creates jobs, transfers technology, and generates wealth within African economies.

Africa possesses roughly 30 percent of the world’s mineral reserves, including cobalt, lithium, and platinum. Currently, much of this output leaves the continent in raw form, limiting economic growth and industrial capacity. The 2009 African Mining Vision seeks to address this by promoting value addition and industrialization.

Kiruswa highlighted the need for regional cooperation, suggesting specialized processing hubs based on each country’s strengths. He believes unified mining policies will help Africa leverage its resources and support industrial transformation, especially as the African Continental Free Trade Area expands. Challenges remain in building the necessary infrastructure and coordinating policies across nations.