Madam Chair,
Ministers
Distinguished Delegates
Tanzanian delegation wishes to congratulate the facilitators for their excellent
presentations. We also wish to appreciate the case study that sited Tanzania?s New Mining
Policy of 2009 as an instrument intended to balance the interests of different stakeholders
in the Mining sectors. Tanzania aligns to the statement made by the Group 77 and China.
Madam Chair
In Tanzania, it is estimated that about 1,000,000 citizens are fully or partly engaged in
Artisanal and Small Scale Mining. This is regarded as positive in terms of provision of
alternative livelihood, income generation and poverty alleviation particularly to the rural
community.
However, ASM is facing a number of challenges including, but not limited to:-
1. poor technology resulting into poor recovery, environmental degradation, poor
health and unsafe working environment to the key players;
2. absence of effective and efficient organizational systems to the ASM (informal
management systems);
3. lack of financial support schemes;
4. absence of transparent and fare market arrangements
We understand that these constraints are not specific for Tanzania but they are global. The
Government of Tanzania is set to address these challenges through the implementation of
the recently adopted Mining Policy of 2009 and they are also taken on board in the ongoing
review of the Mining Legislations that will be enacted soon.
In this process Tanzania:-
? will designate mining areas for ASM and the government is looking into ways of
doing resource assessment and environmental impact assessment for these areas,
through its Institutions (e.g. the Geological Survey) and set mitigation measures
since the ASM do not have the capacity to do so;
? has scaled up extension services to ASM through provision of on the site trainings
and demonstrations of good practises;
? will set mechanisms of providing financial support to ASM either through SACCOS or
other effective financial arrangements;
? will initiate mineral trade fares particularly for gemstones to provide fare and
reliable markets for ASM mineral commodities as well as scaling up value addition
(gem-cutting and jewellery) in the country;
In the new policy it is categorically stated that shares of indigenous in the joint ventures for
gemstone mining should be not less that 50% in total and this is an attempt to enhance
cooperation between local and foreign investors, to facilitate transfer of technology and to
increase benefits to the local community.
In administering the Large Scale Mining operations, among other things, Tanzania is
insisting that issues of:-
? Environmental Impact Assessment,
? participation of mining companies in Community Development Programs,
? strategies for procurement of goods and services locally, and
? compensation and re-settlement plans
should be incorporated in the Project write-ups prior to commencement of mining and
these should be done in consultation with the Government and the communities to insure
that interests of all parties are taken on board. It is further emphasized that environmental
rehabilitation strategies be incorporated in the mining closure plans.
In doing so it is expected that mining will be integrated to the community and most of the
negative perceptions towards the industry will be addressed.
Thank you
