Dodoma is poised to become a key player in Tanzania’s mineral refining industry with the upcoming launch of Shengde Precious Metal Resources Ltd’s state-of-the-art copper refinery in Nala. The plant, which has already entered trial production, is scheduled to commence full operations by July 2025.

Dodoma Regional Mining Officer, Engineer Menard Msengi, confirmed that the facility aligns with a government directive requiring all copper mined in Tanzania to be refined locally by July 30, 2025 — an initiative led by Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde.

“This is a strategic project. It will directly benefit small-scale miners by offering a reliable market and boosting the value of their minerals before they are sold,” said Msengi during a press briefing.

Backed by technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the refinery currently operates at a trial capacity of 20 tonnes per day. Shengde’s Director, Abia Mafie, announced plans to scale up to 1,000 tonnes per day once new machinery arrives.

Mafie also emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation: “Nothing goes to waste in our refining process – even the copper dust is repurposed to make bricks.”

Looking ahead, Shengde aims to expand its footprint with five more processing plants across Tanzania, supporting the national goal of maximizing mineral value addition before export.