Copper, Nickel & Battery Metals in Tanzania: Opportunities, Licences, Export Rules & Processing Plant Investments (2025 Guide)

A complete investor guide to copper, nickel, cobalt and battery metal opportunities in Tanzania—covering mining rights, dealer licences, export procedures, assays, SEZ processing plants, and how to enter the market compliantly with Zatra Consultants.

Natural copper ore with distinct turquoise hues visible in a rough, unrefined rock formation.

1. Tanzania’s Rising Position in Copper, Nickel & Battery Metals

Tanzania holds some of East Africa’s most promising metallic mineral deposits, especially:

• Copper

• Nickel

• Cobalt

• Iron ore

• Manganese

• Lithium (emerging)

With the global shift toward renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs), and battery manufacturing, demand for these minerals is exploding.

Tanzania’s confirmed deposits—especially Kabanga Nickel, one of the densest nickel sulphide resources in the world—are shifting East Africa’s importance in critical minerals.

2. Key Mining Regions for Copper & Nickel in Tanzania

Copper Regions

• Dodoma

• Katavi

• Mbeya

• Iringa

• Tunduru

• Mpanda

• Morogoro (Kilosa)

• Lindi

Copper is often extracted in:

• Ore (3% to 15%)

• Concentrate (20% t0o 70%)

• Cathodes (99.99%)

• Mixed sulfides

• Copper oxide ore

• High-grade copper belt formations

Nickel Regions

• Kabanga (Kagera Region) — internationally recognized

• Ngara

• Kigoma

• Lake Tanganyika Belt

Cobalt

Found as a by-product in copper-nickel deposits.

3. Legal Framework for Copper & Nickel Investment

Metallic mineral activities are regulated by:

• Mining Act, Cap. 123

• Mining Regulations

• Mining Commission directives

Investors must comply with:

✔ Mining rights (PL, ML, SML, PML for local small-scale)

✔ Dealer Licence for metallic minerals

✔ Export rules

✔ Royalties & inspection fees

✔ Local content (25% Tanzanian shareholding for trading)

4. Required Licences for Copper & Nickel Projects

You may enter the sector through three main paths:

PATH 1 — Mining (Upstream)

Licences required:

• Prospecting Licence (PL)

• Mining Licence (ML)

• Special Mining Licence (SML)

• Primary Mining Licence (PML) (for Tanzanians)

Used for extraction and on-site processing.

PATH 2 — Trading & Export (Midstream)

Required Licence:

• Mineral Dealer Licence – Metallic Minerals

This licence allows you to:

• Buy copper ore or copper concentrate

• Buy nickel ore or mixed sulfide

• Store or process ore

• Sell and export copper or nickel

Legal requirement: Tanzanian shareholders must own at least 25% of the trading company.

PATH 3 — Processing & Smelting (Downstream)

Licences include:

• Mineral Processing Licence

• Smelting Licence

• Refining Licence

• SEZ/EPZ Investor Status (optional)

Processing plants may include:

• Copper concentrate plants

• Toll smelting units

• Nickel refineries

• Battery metal processing factories

• SEZ-based industrial plants

5. Exporting Copper Concentrate or Nickel Ore (Step-by-Step)

Below is the exact, legal procedure.

STEP 1 — Buy Legally from Licensed Miners or Dealers

You may only purchase from:

• Licensed mines

• Dealer licence holders

• Mineral trading markets (if designated)

All purchases must appear in:

• Dealer register

• Official receipts

• Royalty/inspection fee records

STEP 2 — Conduct Assay / Laboratory Analysis

Copper and nickel exports require:

• Chemical assay

• Grade confirmation (e.g., %Cu, %Ni)

• Moisture, sulfur, arsenic levels

• Mineralogical composition

Assays must be done in:

• Government-approved labs

• Mineral & Gem Houses (where applicable)

STEP 3 — Apply for an Export Permit

Submit to the Mining Commission:

• Dealer Licence

• Export form

• Assay report

• Seller’s licence

• Proof of royalty payment

• Inspection fee

• Commercial invoice

• Packing list

• Security details

• Buyer information

STEP 4 — Royalty & Inspection Fee Payment

Official taxes:

✔ Royalty: 6% of gross value

(applies to metallic minerals including copper & nickel)

✔ Inspection Fee: 1% of gross value

These must be paid before export approval.

STEP 5 — Customs & Shipment

TRA Customs verifies:

• Export Permit

• Assay results

• Valuation certificate

• Invoices

• Transport & logistic documents

Shipments may be exported via:

• Dar es Salaam Port

• Tanga Port

• Mtwara Port

Depending on logistics and buyer requirements.

6. Demand Drivers for Copper & Nickel from Tanzania

Copper demand:

• Electrical cables

• Conduits

• Renewable energy systems

• Electronics

• Motors

Nickel demand:

• Electric vehicle batteries

• Stainless steel manufacturing

• Energy storage technology

Cobalt:

• Battery precursor materials

• Aerospace alloys

Why Tanzania is attractive

• Untapped reserves

• High-grade formations

• Lower competition than Zambia/DRC

• Transparent licensing system

• Active government support for refining plants

7. Investing in Processing Plants: Tanzania’s SEZ Advantage

TISEZA encourages processing under:

• SEZ (Special Economic Zone)

• EPZ (Export Processing Zone)

Benefits include (as per official TISEZA publications):

• Tax incentives

• Duty-free import of machinery

• Investment facilitation

• Land acquisition support

• Work permit facilitation

• Fast-track approvals

Ideal SEZ Projects:

• Copper cathode production

• Nickel sulfate production

• Smelting & refining plants

• Battery metal precursor plants

• Mineral separation labs

• Concentrate upgrade facilities

Tanzania’s government promotes:

• Iron & steel from Liganga

• Nickel processing from Kabanga

• Precious metal processing

• Smelters for metallic minerals

8. Key Risks in Copper/Nickel Trading (and How to Avoid Them)

⚠ Grade manipulation fraud

Always use certified assay labs.

⚠ Buying from unlicensed sellers

Legal purchases only from licensed miners or dealers.

⚠ Incomplete export documentation

Leads to seizure or fines.

⚠ Transport risks

Copper is high-value and must be securely transported.

⚠ Market volatility

Requires hedging or long-term contracts.

⚠ Environmental compliance

Processing plants must meet EIA and Mining Commission requirements.

9. Business Models Investors Can Use

Model 1 — Copper/Nickel Trading & Export

Buy commercially → assay → export.

Model 2 — Copper Concentrate Upgrade Plant

Improve grade for better export value.

Model 3 — SEZ Toll Smelting

Import ore → refine → export refined products.

Model 4 — Copper Cathode Production

Build a plant to produce 99.99% Cu cathodes.

Model 5 — Nickel Sulfate Plant

Sell battery-grade nickel sulfate to EV supply chains.

Model 6 — JV with Mines

Secure long-term supply contracts.

10. How Zatra Consultants Helps Investors Enter Tanzania's Copper & Nickel Sector

Zatra Consultants provides full support for:

✔ Metallic Mineral Dealer Licence

✔ Company formation with 25% Tanzanian ownership structuring

✔ Mining rights acquisition (PL, ML, SML)

✔ SEZ/EPZ investment facilitation

✔ Tax & royalty compliance

✔ Export permits, assay coordination & documentation

✔ Processing plant feasibility studies

✔ Local sourcing networks for copper & nickel

✔ Regulatory liaison with Mining Commission, TRA & TISEZA

We support investors from:

• China

• India

• UAE

• Hong Kong

• Turkey

• EU

• USA

• South Africa and more.

11. Ready to Enter Tanzania’s Copper & Nickel Market?

Whether you want to trade, export, build a plant, or invest in battery metals, Zatra Consultants will ensure full legal compliance and profitable market entry.

📩 Email: sales@zatra.co

📞 WhatsApp: +255 747 912 965

📍 Address: Sinza A, Sam Nujoma Road, Mwenge Tower, Opp. Mlimani City, Dar es Salaam