STAMICO opens a new salt processing plant in Lindi Region

Tanzania has launched a new salt processing plant in the coastal Lindi Region, a move aimed at strengthening local mineral processing and improving market access for small-scale producers. 

The facility, developed by the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO), was inaugurated in Kilwa District by Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde. It is part of a wider government effort to increase value addition in the mining sector and reduce reliance on imported goods. 

Officials say the project is designed to address long-standing market challenges faced by salt harvesters along Tanzania’s southern coastline. Many producers have struggled with unstable demand, forcing them to sell at low or inconsistent prices. 

By creating a structured buyer for raw salt, the government hopes to stabilize incomes and improve production capacity in rural communities where salt farming remains a key economic activity.

Stable market for local producers 

Speaking at the launch in Lingaula, Mavunde said the plant fulfills a directive from President Samia Suluhu Hassan aimed at improving market access for small-scale salt producers. 

He said the facility will buy raw salt directly from local harvesters, offering what officials describe as a more predictable and structured supply chain than in previous years. 

“This plant is meant to ensure producers have a reliable market while strengthening domestic processing capacity,” Mavunde said.

Expanding Tanzania’s processing capacity 

The plant can process up to three tonnes of salt per hour and is expected to produce between 15,000 and 25,000 tonnes annually, according to officials. 

The added capacity is expected to support both domestic demand and regional trade, while reducing pressure on imports that have historically filled supply gaps in the local market. 

Government officials also say the project is part of a broader strategy to build up agro-mineral industries that can support rural economies and expand industrial output.

Push for value addition and industrial growth 

Mavunde urged salt producers to take advantage of the new facility and encouraged STAMICO to continue investing in value-added mineral projects across the country. 

He said the government is working with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to secure wider markets for Tanzanian salt and reduce dependence on imported supplies. 

The launch reflects Tanzania’s ongoing push to process more raw materials domestically, a shift officials say is intended to create jobs, increase industrial activity, and retain more value within local communities.