Tanzania has taken a major step forward in its industrialisation ambitions with the inauguration of its first advanced copper processing plant in Chunya District, Mbeya Region.
Operated by Mineral Access Systems Tanzania Ltd (MAST), the new facility represents a landmark shift in the country’s mining sector, anchoring value creation locally rather than relying on raw mineral exports.
The plant, built with over US$10 million in joint investment from MAST and its New York-based partner MCC, utilises cutting-edge leaching and cementation technology to process low-grade ore into copper cement with up to 75% purity. Designed to handle 31,200 tonnes of ore monthly, the facility sources 4,000 tonnes directly from Tanzania’s small-scale miners, creating an inclusive model that brings previously marginalised artisanal miners into formal value chains.
Beyond job creation—205 of the plant’s 254 employees are Tanzanians—the project is already contributing to government revenues. The first shipment of 200 tonnes of copper cement generated TZS 228 million in taxes, with significant benefits flowing to local councils.
Crucially, the Chunya plant exemplifies President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s broader agenda to drive industrial self-reliance, incentivise beneficiation, and reduce Tanzania’s dependence on raw exports. The government has now issued four licenses for copper processing plants across the country, reflecting rising investor confidence.
However, experts caution that sustaining this momentum will require robust governance, strict environmental oversight, and continued integration of small-scale miners into the formal sector. The ability to pivot into processing high-demand minerals such as nickel—essential for electric vehicle batteries—offers further strategic promise.
As global demand for copper surges, Tanzania’s evolving industrial strategy positions it to capture greater value from its vast mineral wealth. The Chunya plant is more than an industrial asset; it represents a new chapter in Tanzania’s economic narrative.
Source: Further Africa
