Tanzania has discovered significant deposits of rare earth elements in the Njombe Region, a development officials say could strengthen the country’s position in the global supply chain for critical minerals used in clean energy and advanced technologies.
Authorities said the deposits were identified in Mkiu Village in Ludewa District during ongoing exploration activities focused on rare earth minerals, particularly Neodymium and Praseodymium.
The two minerals are considered strategically important because of their growing use in electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, electronics and renewable energy systems.
Global demand for rare earth elements has risen sharply in recent years as governments and industries accelerate the transition toward low-carbon technologies and digital infrastructure.
Speaking to journalists, Njombe Resident Mining Officer Engineer Lucas Mlekwa said the discovery was made through exploration work being conducted in partnership with.
More Read
He said the current phase of work is focused on determining the size and commercial viability of the deposits before large-scale investment decisions are made.
“We have high hopes that Tanzania will become one of the countries benefiting economically through trade in these minerals in regional and international markets,” Mlekwa told local media.
Officials say the discovery could create new economic opportunities for the Njombe region while boosting Tanzania’s broader mining sector.
More Read
Mlekwa noted that rising investment in renewable energy technologies globally is increasing demand for rare earth minerals, making such discoveries economically significant.
“These minerals are highly valuable because they are essential in many modern technologies. This marks the beginning of a major economic opportunity for Njombe,” he said.
According to officials, Hongji Mining has completed the first phase of exploration and is now conducting detailed assessments ahead of potential commercial production across the 280-square-kilometre project area.
The discovery adds to Tanzania’s growing profile as a producer of strategic minerals increasingly sought after by global manufacturers and technology companies.
Apart from the Njombe project, the country is also home to the internationally recognised, regarded as one of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earth deposits.
Analysts say Tanzania’s rare earth potential could attract increased foreign investment as countries seek to diversify supply chains currently dominated by a small number of global producers.
More Read
Rare earth minerals have become central to geopolitical competition because of their importance in clean energy systems, defence technologies and electronics manufacturing.
China currently dominates global rare earth processing and supply, prompting governments in Europe, North America and Asia to search for alternative sources of critical minerals.
For African countries, growing demand for strategic minerals presents opportunities to expand mining revenues, industrial development and export earnings.
However, experts caution that success will depend on governance standards, infrastructure development and the ability to move beyond raw mineral exports into local processing and value addition.
Tanzania has increasingly sought to strengthen state participation and regulatory oversight in its mining industry in recent years, while encouraging greater local economic benefits from mineral extraction.
The latest discovery is expected to intensify interest in East Africa’s mineral potential as the global energy transition accelerates demand for battery and renewable energy materials.
