Contributed by Pula Group
Pula explores critical minerals mining and investment opportunities at the Tanzania Mining and Investment Forum 2024 – take a virtual journey with us as we look in on day two of the conference, where a key plenary session on “Energy transition minerals: Focusing on midstream and downstream value addition,” chaired by group president, Dr Mary Stith, unearthed more of what Tanzania has to offer the world.
From L-R: DMT Kai Batla investment analyst, Roy Lobow; Peak Rare Earth CEO, Bardin Davis; Tembo Nickel CEO, Benedict Busunzu; Pula Group p resident Dr Mary Stith; Helium One CEO, Lorna Blaisse and MCC/MAST president and CEO, Glendon Archer. All images supplied by Pula Group
Tanzania is known for its world class precious minerals and metals like tanzanite, diamonds, gold and more recently, coal. But, at the annual Tanzania Mining & Investment Conference (TMIC), critical minerals were centre-stage. From 19 to 21 November 2024, more than 1 500 delegates from SADC and EAC countries as well as the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Canada and the US convened at the Julius Nyerere Convention Center for the annual Tanzania mining confab. Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and Tanzanian Minster of Minerals Anthony Mavunde presided. Kenyan Minster of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Ali Hassan Joho and Ugandan Minister of State for Mineral Development, Phiona Nyamutoro delivered addresses. Other dignitaries in attendance included members of Parliament, the Mining Commission, and the Chamber of Mines as well as the diplomatic corps. In addition to an update on a variety of critical mineral projects in Tanzania, the conference emphasised value addition and local participation in the global critical mineral supply chain that passes through Tanzania.
Critical minerals were the reoccurring theme throughout the three-day conference. On day two, a key plenary session on “Energy transition minerals: Focusing on midstream and downstream value addition” was a major conference draw. The session featured four globally significant critical mineral projects in Tanzania: Tembo Nickel Project, Helium One, Peak Rare Earths and Pula Graphite Partner’s Ruangwa Graphite Project.
These four projects showcase the enormous potential across the entirety of the large east African country. Tembo Nickel, located in the north-western region of Kagera, is the world’s largest nickel project. Tembo has also been granted a Special Economic Zone to create a refinery and mining hub in the central region of Kahama in support of the country’s “mine to metal strategy.” Helium One holds assets in three regions in Tanzania, including the south- western region of Mbeya, which is also home to Peak Rare Earths Ngualla Project, while Pula Graphite Partners’ graphite project has a measured, indicated and inferred resource estimate of 140 million tonnes in the south-eastern district of Ruangwa. The high quantum, high quality project is located 225km from the deep-water port of Mtwara, which can handle one million metric tons of imports and exports per annum.
Pula Group president, Dr Mary Stith chaired the panel on “Energy Transition Minerals.” In her opening remarks she said, “The panel, and the conference, reflect Tanzania’s progress and ambitions toward becoming a global mineral and processing hub for the energy transition. The government of Tanzania is inviting, supportive and open to dialogue. The infrastructure and logistics improvement around Pula’s graphite assets is a prime example of the government’s commitment. Based on infrastructure and political stability, Ruangwa is ready to be a mining and processing hub for high grade, high purity graphite concentrate and other beneficiated graphite products.”
Panelists for the Energy Transition Minerals session included Tembo Nickel CEO, Benedict Busunzu; MCC/MAST president and CEO, Glendon Archer; Helium One CEO Lorna Blaisse; DMT Kai Batla investment analyst Roy Lobow and Peak Rare Earth CEO Bardin Davis.
Busunzu started the session by summarising Tembo Nickel’s company’s ambitious strategic vision: “Our solution for meeting global nickel demand combines four strategic elements: leveraging one of the world’s premium high-grade deposits at Kabanga in Kagera, Tanzania; using Lifezone Metals Hydromet Technology to reduce energy usage and emissions; ensuring an integrated mine-to- metal approach and establishing the planned Kahama Multi-Metals Refinery Hub in East Africa. Lifezone Hydromet Technology has a potential to replace smelting for base and precious metals, offering a more sustainable and efficient method for metals production. We are committed to ensuring that Tanzanian nickel, copper and cobalt is refined by Tanzanians, in Tanzania for the world.”
Pula Group president, Dr Mary Stith chaired the panel on “Energy Transition Minerals.”
Davis detailed the Peak Rare Earths Project and commended the government for supporting Tanzania’s critical mineral belts at international mining events. “Peak is developing the Ngualla Rare Earths Project in partnership with the government of Tanzania. We are pursuing a staged development approach entailing the initial development of a mine and beneficiation facilities, which is to be followed by a mixed rare earth carbonate refinery and a rare earth separation facility. Rare earths are integral to the global energy transition and are used in EV motors and direct drive wind turbines. Tanzania is an established and rapidly improving mining jurisdiction characterised by world-class critical minerals deposits, pro mining and foreign investment government policies, political stability, strong social cohesion and is benefiting from major infrastructure initiatives across ports, rail and power.”
Reflecting on his extensive experience in Tanzania and the region, Lobow offered his assessment of Africa’s future as a global critical mineral’s hub — “The Tanzanian Mining Investment Conference 2024 provides a clear message that 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 continent also aims to establish an industrial downstream processing value chain to address socio-economic challenges which many African countries face. The strong presence of the respective Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian Ministry of Minerals has demonstrated regional cooperation as a pathway to develop their mining industries through strategic collaboration and healthy competition.”
DMT Kai Batla, in an effort to expand its footprint and develop capacity across the country, has established a joint venture with a Tanzanian partner. Such efforts provide examples for local content, which is a priority for the Tanzanian government and Tanzanian companies. At the event, Blaisse used the opportunity to make an important announcement: “It was a pleasure to take part in the panel discussion around transitional minerals at the well-organised TMIF this year. This has been a transformative year for Helium One in Tanzania, following the country’s first helium discovery in southern Rukwa and our filing of an ML application, and it was a great opportunity to share our story and make the other major mineral players in Tanzania aware of the value of this highly sought after commodity and its non-substitutable uses in the electrical, medical and space industry sectors.”
Other highlights from the conference regarding critical minerals included McKinsey Partner Adam Kendall’s keynote address and remarks from Lifezone Metals CEO Chris Showalter and Faru CEO John de Vries. Kendall cited a new report by Manufacturing Africa and the Faraday Institution – Global Shifts in Battery Manufacturing: From Minerals to Manufacturing – Africa’s Cost Competitiveness in Global Battery Supply Chains.1 Another key session – “Strategies and development needs to optimise benefits in the critical minerals value chain” – reflected the broad scope of issues that were covered.
Tanzania’s commitment to critical minerals has developed alongside its annual mining conference and the energy transition, creating a multiplier effect for this massive country. This year’s focus on value addition is another example of the country’s forward-looking perspective. Tanzania is focused on attracting global players, local participation and beneficiation. Based on highlights from critical mineral projects featured at the conference, 2025 promises continued growth for Tanzania as a global hub for the energy transition.