Tanzania Formalises Artisanal Mining Registration Scheme Under New Regulatory Framework

For Immediate Release

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA — The Ministry of Minerals of Tanzania has launched a comprehensive new artisanal and small-scale mining registration scheme, establishing a streamlined pathway for small-scale operators to enter the formal sector and access government support, financing, and regulated market channels.

The scheme, introduced under amendments to the Mining (Artisanal Mining) Regulations, reduces the administrative burden on small-scale operators by consolidating previously separate licensing, environmental, and trading permits into a single registration process administered through regional mining offices.

Tanzania has an estimated 1.5 million people engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining activities, making the sector one of the country's largest sources of informal employment. A significant proportion of the gold produced by these operators has historically moved through informal channels, reducing the fiscal contribution of the sector and limiting the government's visibility into production volumes and supply chain practices.

The new framework addresses these challenges by making formal registration straightforward and financially accessible, removing the cost barriers that had previously deterred many small-scale operators from entering the regulated sector.

"The artisanal mining sector is one of the most significant untapped opportunities in Tanzania's mineral economy. The challenge has never been a lack of production capacity — it has been bringing that production into systems where it can be properly measured, taxed, and connected to legitimate markets. This registration framework makes that transition genuinely accessible for the first time." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold

Registered operators will gain access to a range of support services including geological mapping data, technical advisory services on safe and efficient mining practices, access to the Tanzania Minerals Clearing House for the sale of gold at market rates, and eligibility for microfinance products developed in partnership with the National Microfinance Bank.

The scheme also introduces a graded compliance framework, recognising that small operators transitioning from informal activity may require time to meet all regulatory standards. New registrants are given a defined period to achieve full compliance with environmental, health and safety, and land management requirements, with technical support provided during the transition period.

"Formalisation works best when it offers people a genuine improvement in their circumstances, not simply an additional administrative burden. Tanzania's approach of combining simplified registration with access to better markets, better financing, and better technical support gives small-scale miners a real incentive to join the formal sector. That is how you build lasting change rather than temporary compliance." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold

The Ministry has set a target of registering 200,000 artisanal operators within the first 24 months of the scheme's operation, with regional offices in the main mining districts of Geita, Shinyanga, Mara, and Singida prioritised for early rollout.

Tanzania's formalisation programme is being developed with reference to lessons from Ghana's GoldBod model, and the two countries have established a bilateral technical exchange to share best practices in artisanal sector governance across the East and West African gold belts.

— Ends —