Tanzania says the long-delayed Liganga iron ore and Mchuchuma coal projects are expected to commence within the next three months, after investment negotiations reached more than 90 per cent completion.
Speaking on Sunday, May 10, Government chief spokesperson Gerson Msigwa said the projects, located in the country’s southern highlands, are among Tanzania’s largest strategic mining and industrial ventures.
He noted that the projects are projected to create more than 6,500 direct jobs and over 26,000 indirect jobs, while boosting the national steel supply chain.
According to the Government, the Liganga project is expected to produce about 2.9 million tonnes of iron ore annually and support the production of 1.1 million tonnes of steel products each year. The Mchuchuma coal mine is also expected to produce three million tonnes of coal annually.
Msigwa further stated that Tanzania has estimated coal reserves of about five billion tonnes, describing them as among the largest and highest-quality deposits in Africa. The projects will also include the construction of a 220-kilovolt power transmission line between Mchuchuma and Liganga, as well as road infrastructure linking the two sites.