The rapid expansion of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads and the sprawling data centres driving the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution both depend heavily on critical minerals.
Demand for aluminium, lithium, graphite and rare earth metals is soaring as the global economy enters a renewed commodities super cycle, highlighting the vital intersection of technology and natural resources.
Historically, the critical minerals industry has been dominated by China, Brazil, Indonesia and Australia. These nations not only possess vast mineral deposits but have also built advanced ecosystems that process these materials for industrial and technological applications.
However, Tanzania, an emerging East African player once overlooked in global mining, is now stepping into the spotlight.
Despite African countries collectively holding around 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, poor governance and limited infrastructure have hindered their ability to lead the sector.
Much of the continent’s mineral extraction remains raw export, with processing largely outsourced to Asia. For example, the Democratic Republic of Congo produces over 76% of the world’s cobalt but processes only a small portion domestically, exporting most as unrefined ore.
Tanzania is aiming to reverse this trend by positioning itself as a major hub not only for mining but also for the processing of critical minerals essential to modern technology.
The country boasts significant deposits of graphite, nickel, copper, gold, uranium and rare earth elements, and is driving an ambitious policy agenda to harness these resources as engines for economic and technological transformation.
In 2023, President Samia Suluhu Hassan unveiled a national critical minerals strategy focused on securing reliable supply chains, stimulating exploration, and fostering innovation—all underpinned by sustainable and responsible mining practices.
This strategic focus places mining at the heart of Tanzania’s broader technological and economic development goals.
Among its rich resources, Tanzania holds substantial reserves of praseodymium and neodymium—rare earth elements critical for manufacturing powerful permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines and precision robotics.
These magnets enable highly efficient, lightweight motors that are central to electrification and automation technologies.
Tanzania's approximately 6% share of global graphite is equally vital. Graphite forms the anode material in lithium-ion batteries, the dominant battery technology powering EVs, portable electronics, and grid-scale energy storage.
High-quality graphite improves battery capacity, longevity and safety, making Tanzania’s resources essential for advancing energy transition technologies.
Additionally, Tanzania’s nickel deposits feed into battery cathode production, where nickel-rich chemistries increase energy density and reduce reliance on cobalt.
Copper, also abundant in Tanzania, is indispensable for electrical wiring, renewable energy installations, and high-speed data cables connecting AI data centres worldwide.
Uranium reserves add another layer to Tanzania’s technological relevance, supporting nuclear energy generation as a low-carbon power source to meet growing electricity demands from digital infrastructure.
As the world pivots toward green technologies and AI-driven industries, Tanzania’s critical minerals sector represents a vital link in the technology supply chain, offering the potential to transform the country into a key player in the global tech economy.
By developing domestic processing capabilities and innovation ecosystems, Tanzania could move beyond raw mineral exports to become a cornerstone of Africa’s technological future.
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