Amendment to the Mining (Local Content) Regulations 2018 by way of Government Notice No. 563 of 2025

The Government of Tanzania, through the Minister for Minerals, has amended the Mining (Local Content) Regulations, Government Notice No. 3 of 2018 (the 2018 Regulations).

The amendments, published on 12 September 2025 under Government Notice No. 563 of 2025 (the 2025 Regulations), are to be read together with the 2018 Regulations. The 2025 Regulations introduce a comprehensive set of provisions that have direct implications for contractors, subcontractors, licensees, and other stakeholders operating within the mining sector.

Key Amendments

Interests of a Citizens in Mining Operations

The 2025 Regulations require non-indigenous Tanzanian companies seeking to supply goods or services to a contractor, subcontractor, licensee, or the Corporation in Tanzania’s mining sector to establish a joint venture (JV) with an existing Indigenous Tanzanian company (ITC) that is wholly owned (100%)  by Tanzanian citizens and operates in the same line of business as the goods or services to be supplied. This change addresses prior concerns in relation to the dilution of the Tanzanian citizen shareholding where ITCs could be owned 20% by Tanzanians and 80% by foreign entities.

Where goods and services are provided directly by an ITC, the ITC must hold a minimum equity participation of twenty percent (20%), unless the goods or services are on the list of those to be exclusively provided by ITCs. 

Regulation 8(7) of the 2025 Regulations now requires that a contractor, subcontractor, licensee, or other allied entity to submit the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) entered with the ITC to the Mining Commission (the Commission) for approval before the commencement of mining activities, replacing the 2018 requirement, which only required submission of a plan.

Content of the Local Content Plan

The 2025 Regulations introduce two changes to the sub-plans to be submitted within the local content plan. Regulation 12(3) of the 2018 Regulations has been amended, replacing the previously required Financial Services Sub-Plan with a Banking Services Sub-Plan. Additionally, the 2025 Regulations now require a Procurement Sub-Plan to be submitted to the Commission.

Submission of the Local Content Plan

Under the 2018 Regulations, when an applicant submitted a local content plan that the Commission did not approve, the applicant was required to revise the plan in line with the Commission’s recommendations and resubmit it within 14 working days. Under the 2025 Regulations, to increase efficiency, if the Commission fails to notify the applicant of its approval or otherwise of the revised plan, the plan is deemed approved upon the expiry of 50 working days from its submission. The deemed approval was once provided for in the first version of the 2018 Regulations but was thereafter removed. This reintroduction will give comfort to parties who submit revised plans but do not hear back from the Commission.

Publication of Goods and Services

The 2025 Regulations introduce an addition to Regulation 13 as Regulation 13A, which requires the publication of goods and services to be provided by indigenous Tanzanians. It states that the Commission shall, from time to time, publish in the Gazette, on its website, and in media of nationwide circulation, a list of goods and services that are exclusively to be provided by an indigenous Tanzanian company that is 100% owned by Tanzanians.

Submission of Proposed Contracts

The 2025 Regulations amend Regulation 16(1) requiring contractors, subcontractors, licensees, or other allied entities to inform the Commission of each proposed contract or purchase order related to mining activities that is to be sole-sourced and whose value is estimated to exceed the amount in Tanzanian shillings (TZS) equivalent to USD 10,000.

Submission of Quarterly Forecasts

The 2025 Regulations amend Regulation 17(1) by enhancing the reporting obligations of contractors and related entities in the mining sector. It specifies that quarterly submissions to the Commission must include a list of contracts or purchase orders that are to be sole-sourced. Furthermore, it expands the reporting timeline for high-value contracts: instead of being limited to those intended for the upcoming quarter, entities must now report contracts projected for the entire year or quarter. This change promotes forward planning, oversight, and transparency in procurement across the mining industry.

Amendment of the Schedule

The 2025 Regulations have reshaped the requirements for disclosures prior to tendering in the mining sector. Previously, contractors and licensees were required to submit detailed information to the Commission before issuing a prequalification notice, including the scope of work, a copy of the prequalification notification, a list of invited companies with contact details, and anticipated timelines for prequalification and subsequent proposal stages.

Under the 2025 Regulations, the obligation now applies prior to issuing an Expression of Interest (EOI) rather than a prequalification notice. The required information has been streamlined to three elements:

• a description of  the scope of work; 
• the prequalification criteria; and 
• the number of days allowed for submission of EOIs. 

It is worth noting that, the 2025 Regulations introduce a safeguard stipulating a minimum submission period of 7 days for EOIs.

Conclusion

The 2025 Regulations strengthen local participation and transparency in Tanzania’s mining sector. Key changes such as joint venture requirements, new sub-plans, enhanced reporting, and streamlined procurement ensure greater involvement of indigenous Tanzanian companies while promoting efficiency and regulatory oversight. Contractors, licensees, and allied entities must align closely with these requirements to remain compliant and support local economic development.