Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is working out a plan to become Africa’s largest graphite producer.
Currently, the country stands in third place on the continent after Madagascar and Mozambique.
Tanzania contributes only 0.64 percent to Africa’s graphite production, while Madagascar and Mozambique account for 13 and 10 percent, respectively.
But the Minister for Minerals, Antony Mavunde, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that if the ten companies that currently hold graphite mining licenses start production, Tanzania will surpass the two and become Africa’s leading mineral producer.
Graphite is used to make pencils, lubricants, crucibles, foundry facings, polishes, brushes for electric motors, and the cores of nuclear reactors.
Its high thermal and electrical conductivity makes it a key part of steelmaking, where it is used as electrodes in electric arc furnaces.
Statistics produced by Mr Mavunde when he announced the Tanzania Mining and Investment Conference yesterday show that the globe needs 6.5 million metric tonnes of graphite and that currently, China is leading with 64 percent globally.
Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde speaks at a preparatory meeting of the international conference on investment in the mining sector in Dar es Salaam yesterday. PHOTO | MICHAEL MATEMANGA
The three-day conference will start on November 19, 2024, in Dar es Salaam.
“Tanzania has not started utilising the minerals in full swing, but there are 10 licenses that are not operational, but when they become fully operational, Tanzania will rank among the largest producers,” Mr Mavunde said.
Meanwhile, explaining about the conference, he said Tanzania hosts vast mineral resources, which include metallic minerals (gold, iron, nickel, copper, rare earth elements, niobium, lithium, cobalt, lead, and platinum group metals), gemstones (tanzanite, ruby, sapphire, spinel, amethyst, rhodolite, and tsavorite), and industrial minerals (phosphates, limestones, gypsum, dolomite, graphite, iron ore, kaolin, bauxite, and many dimension stones such as granites and marbles).
Given this, he said mining contributes 56 percent of forex from exports and will not issue licenses for major mining activities unless investors show a comprehensive plan for value addition.
“The immense potential of Tanzania’s mining sector while promoting responsible and inclusive mining practices. The conference will provide a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions, share insights, and identify strategies for enhancing the sector’s contribution to the country’s economy and sustainable development,” he said.
He said the conference aims to promote Tanzania’s mining potential, which will highlight Tanzania’s rich mineral resources and provide an opportunity for local and international investors to discover the vast potential of mineral exploration projects, mineral beneficiation, and value addition from numerous mineral categories.
Further, he noted that it will enhance mineral value addition by promoting value addition, which is crucial for realising the full potential of the mining sector.
“Historically, Tanzania has been predominantly exporting raw minerals without significant processing, missing out on the opportunity to capture a larger share of the value chain. By encouraging local processing and beneficiation of minerals, the country can create a more sustainable and inclusive mining industry that benefits local communities and the economy as a whole,” he said.
He noted that they will foster public-private partnerships by facilitating dialogue and collaboration between government representatives and private sector stakeholders, encouraging mutually beneficial partnerships to support the growth and development of the mining industry.
Further, he noted sustainable mining practices by recognising the importance of environmental and social responsibility. The conference will focus on promoting sustainable mining practices, including environmentally friendly mining technologies, community engagement, and responsible resource management.
On investment opportunities, he said the conference will showcase investment opportunities in the mining sector, offering a platform for investors to connect with mining companies, explore potential projects, and facilitate investment deals.
For his part, deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mineral, Mr Msafiri Mbibo, said this is the fifth Tanzania Mining Investment Forum.
“The forum is expected to bring together many stakeholders from around the world, and the theme for the 2024 Tanzania Mining Investment Conference is mineral value addition for socio-economic development,” he said.
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Inside Tanzania’s Life-Saving Birthcare Model
Tanzania is winning the battle against maternal and newborn deaths, as the latest numbers reveal a significant decline.
“Tanzania is committed to reducing maternal and newborn mortality and ensuring safe deliveries as part of the national development plan. The Safer Births Bundle of Care is one of the key strategies supporting this effort,” said Dr. Benjamin Kamala, the Senior Research Scientist at Haydom Lutheran Hospital and Principal Investigator for the program, leading its implementation across five regions in Tanzania.
A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the innovative health program in Tanzania – centered on regular, on-the-job training for healthcare workers – reduced maternal deaths by 75% and early newborn deaths by 40%. The three-year study, conducted across 30 high-burden healthcare facilities in Tanzania, tracked approximately 300,000 mother-baby pairs under the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) programme. The programme focuses on improving care for mothers and babies during the day of birth, the critical time when a woman goes into labor and delivers her baby.
Maternal health is a key focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Target 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Tanzania’s program combines continuous, simulation-based training for frontline healthcare workers alongside innovative clinical tools to improve labour monitoring (fetal heart rate monitoring) and newborn resuscitation.It also uses data to drive ongoing improvements, ensuring that healthcare workers have the skills, confidence, and competence to manage birth-related complications for both mothers and newborns.
“We work closely with healthcare workers, equipping them with the necessary tools to improve the quality of care, ensuring they can effectively manage both mothers and babies during and after childbirth,” Dr. Kamala said, which helps them build on over a decade of innovative research and collaboration to improve care during childbirth.
“To give you a sense of the scale of the burden of maternal and newborn mortality in Tanzania when the Safer Births Bundles of Care program was in early development in 2015/16, there were around 556 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 25 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births,” he said.
The published study demonstrates the “transformative impact” of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program conducted across 30 hospitals in five high-burden regions of Tanzania, where there were about 300,000 mother-baby pairs.
Maternal deaths at the start of the program were recorded at 240 per 100,000 live births, with postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders being the leading causes of death, he said. Over the 24-month study period, this number dropped to approximately 60 per 100,000 live births, representing a 75% reduction. The number of newborn deaths – which are primarily due to breathing difficulties and complications related to prematurity – declined by 40% – from 7 deaths per 1,000 live births to 4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“These results are remarkable,” Dr. Kamala said.
According to Dr. Kamala, the 75% reduction in maternal deaths was not expected, and a key lesson was the important role of the in-situ team simulations – including for postpartum bleeding – with reflective debriefings that trained facilitators led.
“This seems to be a major part of the success of the program,” he said. “We are delighted by these results and hope that other countries adopt and scale the Safer Births Bundle of Care program… Beyond the numbers, the Safer Births Bundle of Care program has fostered a dramatic culture shift in our healthcare system,” he said. “Healthcare workers are now more confident and better equipped to handle birth-related complications for both mothers and babies.”
Maternal death drop
Dr. Kamala attributed the 60-70% reduction in newborn deaths in Geita and Manyara to several factors.
“Firstly, Manyara was the first site for implementation, giving the region more time to adapt and experience the impact of the program. Most importantly, both regions had a high burden of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, making them ideal targets for focused intervention. As a result, newborn deaths decreased by 60-70%, showcasing a clear positive impact on newborn survival,” he said.
Dr. Kamala said another possible explanation is the differences in the culture of practices, where some health facilities reported inaccurate data due to the fear of blame and shame. However, with the project’s implementation, reporting became more accurate after mplementation. Some regions, such as Tabora, reported an increase in the number of referrals to the study hospitals from other care centers after the program was implemented. These were more likely to be late admissions, which increase the likelihood of poor health outcomes, he said.
After the implementation of the program, there was a 40% decrease in newborn deaths within the first 24 hours after birth, according to the study.
Dr. Kamala said Tanzania’s remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality by 80% is driven by strategic investments and innovative programs focused on improving maternal and child survival rates.
“Over 2,000 new healthcare facilities have been developed, free health services are being provided to expectant mothers and children under the age of five, and emergency obstetric care – including better transport to hospitals in rural areas are helping to ensure timely, life-saving interventions.
“Most importantly, the Ministry of Health works in collaboration with healthcare workers, hospitals, and development partners to strengthen the skills of frontline healthcare workers, which has been a key factor in driving this progress.
“Political leadership, alongside strategic partnerships and financing, has been crucial in driving progress in maternal and newborn health,” he said.
The program was made possible by the support of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents, Norad, UNICEF, and Laerdal Global Health, as well as the Ministry of Health and Haydom Lutheran Hospital. Their partnership and investment enabled the scaling of the Safer Births Bundle of Care to 30 hospitals and supported the research. “The government has now scaled the program to over 150 sites, and there are plans for further expansion to three regions this year and then nationally,” he said.
Dr. Kamala outlined key policy recommendations for other governments can adopt to prioritize maternal health.
“Firstly, it focuses on cost-effective and relatively simple interventions that are essential to preventing maternal and newborn deaths. For example, stronger primary healthcare that is delivered in the community and a well-trained healthcare workforce are also critical. Additionally, working in close collaboration with national, regional, and local health authorities is key.”
He said Tanzania’s approach, where the Safer Births Bundle of Care program was successfully scaled and sustained by aligning the initiative with national guidelines for obstetrical and newborn care. In addition, the creation of mentorship programs and regular supervision has helped to sustain the results.
Looking ahead
Tanzania now plans to expand to three new regions in 2025, followed by a nationwide rollout.
The success of the program has attracted interest from other countries, with Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and Namibia expressing interest in adapting the program to their healthcare system. In Nigeria, the program has already been launched in two states, Gombe and Borno, marking a significant step in its scaling.
Source: allafrica.com
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