Amendments to the Tanzania Mining (Corporate Social Responsibility) Regulations, 2023 through Government Notice No. 692 of 2025

On 19 December 2025, the Minister of Minerals published amendments to the Mining (Corporate Social Responsibility) Regulation, Government Notice No. 409 of 2023 (the CSR Regulations), through Government Notice No. 692 of 2025 (the Amendments).

Please see the attached Link to access our previous article on the CSR Regulations. Some of the key reforms include a restructured Expert Committee (the Committee), defined timelines for submission of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan to relevant LGA and Ministers, strengthened financial reporting obligations, and full responsibility on the mining licensees on project execution and corrective actions.

In this legal update, we briefly discuss the key changes introduced by the Amendments as highlighted below:

Regulation 6: Structure of the Committee

Regulation 6 of the CSR Regulations has been deleted and replaced by the new composition of the Committee, which shall now comprise of the following individuals:  

(a) the planning officer of the relevant Local Government Authority (LGA), who shall serve as chairperson;

(b) two (2) representatives appointed by the mining licensee, one of whom shall serve as secretary;

(c) the mining officer of the relevant area or their representative;

(d) an engineer from the relevant LGA;

(e) a government legal officer from the relevant LGA; 

(f) an environmental officer from the relevant LGA;

(g) a community development officer from the relevant LGA; and 

(h) an officer from the specific project being implemented under the relevant plan.

Regulation 7: Functions and Responsibilities of the Committee

Regulation 7 of the CSR Regulations sets out the key functions of the Committee responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and monitoring of CSR projects undertaken by mining licensees. Among its principal functions, the Committee is mandated to:

• review CSR documentation including plans, designs, implementation schedules, and other materials relating to the mining licensee’s social obligations and submit these to the relevant district, town, municipal, or city council for consideration;
• ensure value for money by assessing whether projects proposed or implemented by mining licensee achieve cost effectiveness and deliver the intended social impact;
• supervise project quality, including the standard of materials used, the integrity of infrastructure, and the overall efficiency of implementation;
• monitor timely implementation of projects approved under the CSR plans to ensure adherence to agreed schedules; and
• oversee compliance with the mining licensee’s CSR policy and evaluate the effectiveness of its implementation.

A new development under the amended framework is the introduction of Regulation 7(3). This provision clarifies that, notwithstanding the Committee’s statutory functions, each party is responsible for bearing the cost of engaging its own expert(s). The rationale behind this requirement is to minimise unnecessary financial burdens on the Committee and enhance overall efficiency in project implementation, by allocating expert related costs directly to the parties that choose to engage them.

Regulations 8 and 9: Prescribed Timelines for Submission and Revision of CSR Plans 

Before the amendments, the CSR Regulations did not prescribe a period within which a mining licensee was required to revise its CSR plan following comments or objections from the LGA. This gap often contributed to delays in project approval and prolonged engagement between mining licensee(s) and LGAs.

The amendment to Regulation 8(3) now introduces a clear statutory deadline that a mining licensee must revise and resubmit the CSR plan within fourteen (14) days if the LGA requires amendments to the CSR plan. 

In addition, under the previous framework, Regulation 9(1) of the CSR Regulations placed responsibility on the LGA to submit the CSR plan to the Minister responsible for LGAs and the Minister of Finance (collectively, the Ministers). Once the LGA was satisfied with the contents of the CSR Plan, it was required to forward the plan to the Ministers within thirty (30) days of receiving it from the mining licensee. 

However, the amendment to Regulation 9(1) introduces a significantly shorter timeframe. The LGA must now submit the approved CSR plan to the Ministers within fourteen (14) days from the date it receives the revised or final CSR plan from the mining licensee. This change forms part of broader efforts to accelerate the CSR approval cycle and ensure timely implementation of CSR projects.

Regulation 14: Report on Finances and CSR Projects. 

Regulation 15 of the CSR Regulations has been repealed and replaced with an entirely new provision that clarifies the responsibilities of a mining licensee in implementing approved CSR plans. Under the revised framework, a mining licensee is now required to:

(a) implement the CSR plan in accordance with its internal procurement procedures, ensuring that the selection and engagement of suppliers, contractors, and service providers comply with established corporate procurement standards; 

(b) hire a contractor or any other qualified person for the execution of projects specified in the CSR plan, thereby placing responsibility for project delivery on the licensee;

(c) bear all costs associated with the implementation of CSR projects, including expenses related to feasibility studies, preparation of construction cost estimates, and any other expenditures necessary for the completion of CSR initiatives; and

(d) submit quarterly reports to the Mining Commission and the relevant LGA detailing the status of CSR project implementation.

Regulation 16: Supervision, Monitoring, and Auditing of CSR Plan Implementation

Regulation 16 of the CSR Regulations previously outlined the supervision, monitoring, and auditing responsibilities of the Mining Commission and the relevant LGA, including contract reviews, quarterly audits, assessment of costs and quality, and maintaining project records for at least five (5) years. The Amendment inserts sub regulation (6), which now expressly requires that a mining licensee must, based on reports or advice from the Committee or the relevant LGA, issue instructions and take corrective action against any contractor performing below standard or deviating from the approved CSR plan.

Such action must ensure that the project is corrected, improved, and completed in accordance with the approved plan.

Conclusion

Overall, the Amendments to the CSR Regulations introduce a more practical and operationally focused framework for managing community responsibility obligations. By setting clear shorter timelines, expanding reporting channels to LGAs, and placing greater responsibility on mining companies to supervise contractors and take timely corrective action, the reforms are likely to reduce delays in obtaining approval and improve project delivery.

In practice, mining licensees will need to strengthen internal planning, procurement, and monitoring systems to keep pace with the stricter deadlines and enhanced oversight. LGAs will also have better visibility into CSR spending and project progress, which should support more informed decision making at the community level. If effectively implemented, these changes can lead to better coordinated CSR activities and more consistent, tangible outcomes for host communities.