Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Tanzania and Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together in exploration and assessment of a wide variety of untapped mineral deposits in this East African country.
Under the deal, Japan Oil, Gas and Metal National Corporation (JOGMEC) and Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) will use integrated modern techniques of remote sensing, satellite image analysis and GIS technology.
“Results of the survey are expected to bring an understanding of the mineral resources potential of the country, which is expected to accelerate investment in the mineral sector, particularly from Japan,” said William Ngeleja, Energy and Minerals Minister, Tanzania.
Currently, Tanzania is Africa’s second largest gold producer after South Africa and mining is the fastest-growing sector in terms of its share of the country’s exports.
According to Ngeleja, a vast area of Tanzania has not been geologically surveyed. Meanwhile, Shuichiro Kawaguchi, Deputy Chief of Japanese Mission in Tanzania, said the technology transfer of the state-of-the-art on mineral resource explorations using satellite imaging under the deal would contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction in Tanzania.
Source: Afrique en ligne
