Tanzanian Government to Introduce New Special Salt Production License to Boost Sector Growth

On 5 May 2025, the Government of Tanzania announced plans to introduce a new special license for salt production to remove salt from the category of other minerals and enhance the development of the salt industry.

The announcement was made in Dodoma during a meeting between the Minister of Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, and the leadership of the Tanzania Salt Producers Association (TASPA), held to discuss reforms aimed at improving the salt value chain.

Minister Mavunde explained that the move follows a directive from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to support the development of salt mining and processing in Tanzania by reducing regulatory burdens and encouraging investment in processing capacity.

He directed that the legal amendment process begin immediately to establish the new special salt production license and that the fee per hectare be revised down to TZS 20,000.

Mavunde noted that the government’s goal is to enable salt producers to increase productivity and eventually own salt processing and refining facilities in the country.

He also stated that salt would be officially removed from the group of general minerals to streamline the regulatory environment and reduce production costs for salt producers.

The meeting also addressed the long-standing concerns of industry stakeholders, who have requested a licensing regime tailored to the specific needs of the salt sector.

Yahaya Samamba, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Minerals, commended TASPA for its efforts in supporting and managing salt producers and assured the association of continued collaboration in addressing sector challenges.

TASPA Chairperson Hawa Ghasia welcomed the government’s commitment to reform and used the opportunity to thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan for initiating the construction of a salt processing and refining plant in Lindi Region through the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO).

She also praised the Ministry of Minerals for establishing a dialogue with stakeholders and responding to their concerns.

Tanzania Salt Production

Tanzania produced approximately 182,000 metric tons of salt in 2022, up from 113,000 metric tons in 2021.

Salt production in Tanzania is concentrated along the coastline, particularly in the Lindi, Mtwara, and Coast regions, where producers primarily use solar evaporation methods.

Despite growing production, Tanzania still supplements its domestic supply with imports to meet national demand. In 2021, the country imported about $10.2 million worth of salt.

In 2023, Tanzania exported $10.4M of salt, making it the 42nd largest exporter (out of 186) in the world. $5.03 million was exported to Malawi, and exports to Uganda grew by $283,000 from the previous year.

Despite its potential, Tanzania’s salt processing capacity remains limited, with most of the produced salt being of low quality and primarily used for local consumption.