By Lake Zone Watch writer
Tanzania is ready to participate in the emerging marine mineral economy as a new source of increased revenue from the booming mining industry, a cabinet minister has disclosed.
Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, said yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the government is still waiting for the finalisation of the Mining Code, which refers to the comprehensive set of rules, regulations and procedures issued by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to regulate prospecting, exploration and exploitation of marine minerals in the international seabed Area.
The Mining Code also underpins effective measures to protect the marine environment in the deep ocean.
Mavunde revealed this when he was closing the Sixth International Meeting of Contractors with investments in deep sea mining.
The meeting, which began on Sunday and ended yesterday, was aimed at helping the government to explore existing opportunities in the marine mineral economy of which Tanzania is a strong participant in the value chain.
“Our government experts from ministries and institutions engaged in mining have had the opportunity at this meeting to increase their skills in mining activities in the deep sea,” Mavunde said.
He added: “This shows the trust between ISA and our government contractors that they can work together in ensuring the implementation of Section 11 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement .”
He said the Sixth International Meeting held in Dar es Salaam has exposed Tanzania to the existing opportunity of exploiting marine minerals in the deep seabed “and we receive this opportunity with both hands as we are ISA members, including promoting our country.”
Mavunde invited the participants to a two-day meeting on Investing in the Mineral Sector in Tanzania carrying the slogan “Opening the Capacity of Mining in Tanzania for the Future” to be held for two days (today and tomorrow) at the Julius Nyerere Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam.
A representative of the ISA Secretary General, Marie Bourrel-MacKinnon, said Tanzania will have a greater contribution to the marine mining economy after the finalisation of the Mining Code.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mining, Kheri Mahimbali, said the holding of the Sixth International Meeting stems from the good work done by President Samia Suluhu Hassan for opening up the nation to investments.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Mining Mathayo David said it was a prestige for Tanzania to be given the chance to host such a gathering, which has helped promote the country’s mining sector.