By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania’s positioning as an emerging key graphite supplier is no longer theoretical – it’s rapidly becoming reality as global supply chains undergo realignment.
With natural graphite production projected to climb from around 9,000 tonnes in 2024 to 30,000 by 2030 and 40,000 by 2040, Tanzania is attracting global attention as a stable and competitive source of this critical battery mineral.
Major graphite projects in the country include Mahenge Graphite Project in Morogoro Region. The project is being advanced by Australian-based Black Rock Mining in strategic partnership with POSCO International, and has now moved beyond planning into tangible on-site works.
In late 2025, Black Rock initiated early earthworks and infrastructure preparation on the project site – including road upgrades and pre‑construction activities – as part of the company’s phased development strategy.
Its CEO, John de Vries, recently highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating that “strong shareholder support made it possible for the company to move forward” with early construction efforts, and emphasised that “studies are complete, and now construction begins” as the project transitions toward full development.
Once fully operational, Mahenge is expected to deliver up to approximately 340,000 tonnes per annum of high-purity graphite concentrate, positioning it among the largest graphite producers globally and unlocking long‑term supply potential for critical battery materials and industrial applications.
Commercial production at Mahenge is targeted for from 2028 onward, with the offtake agreements structured to deliver sustained volumes over decades, supporting Tanzania’s emergence as a strategic supplier of graphite in the global energy transition economy
Bunyu Graphite Project in Mtwara
The Bunyu Graphite Project in Mtwara Region – wholly owned and advanced by Australian miner Volt Resources Ltd – is now widely regarded as one of the largest graphite deposits in the world, with an estimated 461 million tonnes of mineral resource at approximately 4.9 percent total graphitic carbon.
Volt has structured Bunyu’s development into a two-stage plan that starts with a modest but strategic Phase 1, designed to produce around 24,780 tonnes per annum of flake graphite from a 400,000 tonne per year ore throughput, before scaling up in Phase 2 to an anticipated 170,000 tpa once infrastructure, market placement and financing are in place.
In recent months, Volt’s executive leadership has underscored the significance of securing development support and partnerships as it pushes toward these production milestones.
Its executive chair, Asimwe Kabunga, described the company’s recent binding term sheet with Unbounded Opportunities Fund (UOF) for a conditional US$11.1 million equity investment as “a significant milestone,” aimed at “supporting higher annual concentrate production rates with more efficient capital deployment and improved operating costs,” signalling strengthened confidence in advancing Bunyu’s industrial footprint.
Epanko Graphite Project
This project in the Morogoro Region is a joint venture between the Government and EcoGraf Limited, an Australian-based vertically integrated battery anode materials developer focused on producing high-purity graphite products for the global lithium-ion battery and advanced manufacturing markets.
The project has rapidly advanced toward full development, buoyed by the granting in March 2025 of a 25-year Special Mining Licence that expands its mining area and underpins its financing process.
With an updated mineral resource estimate of approximately 290.8 million tonnes at 7.2 percent total graphitic carbon (TGC) – now widely recognised as Africa’s largest development-ready graphite deposit – Epanko is positioned to become a major new source of high-quality flake graphite for global markets.
EcoGraf’s management has emphasised the project’s strategic importance. The company recently described Epanko as “a foundation for scalable and long‑life graphite production that can support both upstream supply and downstream value-addition activities,” underscoring its potential role in global battery anode material supply chains as demand escalates with electric vehicle and energy storage growth.
Chilalo & Nachu Projects
The Chilalo and Nachu graphite projects in Lindi Region illustrate contrasting trajectories within the country’s expanding critical minerals landscape.
At Chilalo, operated by Evolution Energy Minerals through its local subsidiary Kudu Graphite Ltd, the project hosts a high-grade graphite resource – with an estimated 67.3 million tonnes at 5.4 percent total graphitic carbon (TGC) – and has been moving steadily toward development after securing a formal mining licence and binding offtake agreements that cover a significant portion of future production.
Evolution recently announced an accelerated development schedule targeting first ore mining by October 2027, a milestone that management says reflects strong engagement with the authorities and renewed investor confidence in the project’s execution pathway.
In contrast, the Nachu Graphite Project – promoted by Magnis Energy Technologies – has faced financial, regulatory and operational headwinds that have slowed its progress despite the size of its coarse flake graphite resource, estimated at around 174 million tonnes.
Magnis has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Nachu, highlighting engineering partnerships to build processing infrastructure, but the company’s strained balance sheet, ongoing compliance issues and delayed licence milestones have drawn scrutiny from both Tanzanian regulators and investors, creating uncertainty around its near‑term timeline.
Policy reforms and strategic push for graphite
Emerging projects and artisanal activity across the Mahenge–Arusha belt and Bagamoyo remain in exploration stages, expanding Tanzania’s graphite footprint.
Tanzania has modernised its mining regulations to attract investment, boost local value addition, and become a strategic supplier of critical minerals like graphite. The Ministry of Minerals says, “we are committed to creating a competitive, transparent, and investor-friendly framework that ensures Tanzania benefits from its mineral wealth while fostering sustainable development.”
The government has revised tax regimes and incentives, including joint ventures where the state retains 16 percent equity. As the Ministry notes, “these reforms aim to balance investor returns with national benefits, ensuring Tanzanian citizens gain from mining activities.”
Impact on the mining sector, alignment with Dira 2050
Graphite is transforming Tanzania’s mining portfolio, moving it beyond gold and gemstones into critical minerals vital for the global energy transition. According to the Bank of Tanzania, the country could rank among Africa’s top graphite producers by 2050, strengthening its industrial minerals leadership.
Under Dira 2050, the graphite sector supports economic diversification, technology-driven green growth, regional mineral leadership, and resilience through strategic partnerships. By supplying battery-grade graphite, Tanzania integrates into global clean energy supply chains while fostering domestic industrialisation.
