Tanzania names chairman for new mining commission
DAR ES SALAAM, April 18 (Reuters) - Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Wednesday appointed a chairman and commissioners for the country’s new mining commission, paving the way for the issuance of new mining licences.
Africa’s fourth-largest gold producer is seeking a bigger slice of the pie from its vast mineral resources by overhauling the fiscal and regulatory regime of its mining sector.
Magufuli sent shock-waves through the mining community with a series of actions since his election in late 2015, which he says are aimed at distributing revenue to the Tanzanian people.
In July last year, he suspended the issuance of all new mining licences until the new mining commission was in place.
The president on Wednesday appointed Idris Kikula, a former vice chancellor of a state university as chairman of the new mining commission and also named eight commissioners to serve under him.
A statement from the Tanzanian presidency said these appointments would take effect immediately.
The appointment of the mining commission and new regulations published in January mean the country can now resume issuing new mining licences to investors.
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