Overall demand for at least some critical minerals will increase significantly over the next 30 years (by 2050) yet public awareness and their governance in Tanzania and East Africa as a whole,  is not aligned

Green or critical minerals  have been broadly defined or described specifically as minerals (metallic and non metallic) with limited geographical presence and stressed mineral supply chains but critically associated with and required for  technologies for industrial use during the current and future global transition to clean and renewable energy.

Overall demand for at least some critical minerals such as Nickel, Lithium, Cobalt, Tantalum, Tungsten and Copper will increase significantly over the next 30 years (by 2050) yet public awareness and their governance in Tanzania and East Africa as a whole,  is not aligned

Preliminary reports show that Tanzania has a wide variety of what are considered Critical or strategic Minerals relevant to the future global energy transition. According to various geological surveys such as the US Geological Survey Report, S & P Global data bases and Tanzania government reports, critical mineral deposits found in Tanzania include; Graphite, Rare Earth, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Niobium, Lead, Lithium, Manganese, Diamond, Nickel, Titanium, Uranium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Lead, Bauxite and other gaseous minerals such as helium. A scoping study by the Natural Resources Governance Institute (2022) identified presence of 24 confirmed occurrences of green minerals, with Tanzania having the 4th largest deposit of Graphite.  According to the US geological survey reports (USGS 2015), new Tanzanian mines, if developed could likely to have substantial effects upon world markets for graphite, niobium, and rare earths.

The deposits and potential contribution that these minerals could make to Tanzania’s economic development and its own energy transition  has not largely picked up in Tanzania and the East Africa region generally. Yet to date the public awareness and policy discussion has not picked momentum within Tanzania and East Africa as a whole. The public is not aware on this new trend and governments are  yet to align their governance and to leverage on this potential critical minerals boom. Entirely new policies to govern critical or green minerals alone may not be necessary but substantial tweaks of existing policies to suit the current and future global energy trends are required. Essentially, governments, local citizens and communities must benefit from this new mineral boom

Work under this area includes

  • Research and Public awareness through simplified briefs
  • Specialized convenings and policy dialogues on Critical Minerals and Energy Transition
  • Support of National and Regional institutions and networks promoting transparency, justice and reduced harm from mining
  • Local and International advocacy for just reforms and mining justice

More programing for this work is forthcoming