MES invests 35bn/- in local production of underground mining consumables

DAR ES SALAAM: Mining Engineering Services Tanzania Limited (MES), a member of the VINMART Group of Companies, has announced a 35bn/- investment in a new manufacturing facility that is expected to significantly reduce Tanzania’s reliance on imported underground mining consumables.

The greenfield industrial facility, currently under development in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam, will manufacture underground mining consumables that have, until now, been sourced largely from foreign suppliers. The investment covers the plant, equipment and supporting infrastructure required to localise production.

MES management disclosed the investment during a visit by Tanzania’s Commissioner of local content and CSR from the mining commission, Dr Theresia Charles Numbi, who toured the facility to assess its progress and planned production operations.

Dr Numbi urged the company to customise the project and its products to ensure that small and medium-scale miners across Tanzania also benefit from the investment.

She said the government would continue supporting investments such as the MES facility, which contribute to the growth of the mining sector, strengthen local manufacturing and advance the country’s economic development.

“The government will support investments such as MES that are intended to facilitate the growth of the mining sector and contribute to the country’s economic development,” Dr Numbi said.

Once completed, the facility is also expected to create employment opportunities for Tanzanians, particularly in production, welding, galvanising and engineering, while strengthening technical skills within the country’s mining supply chain.

MES, which is the first company to invest in a hot dip galvanizing bath in Tanzania, will focus on three core production lines that include mine mesh, friction-stabiliser split sets and dome plates. Investments are targeting the energy, transport and Mining Sectors.

According to the Managing director Pulin Manek, the investment is intended to replace foreign supplies of high-volume, recurring underground mining consumables with products manufactured in Tanzania.

“The reason we are establishing this facility is to help Tanzania reduce its reliance on imported underground mining consumables, which continue to cost the country considerable amounts of money,” the management said. “We have invested in sufficient production capacity to meet domestic demand while positioning Tanzania to supply other mining markets in the region.”

Once fully operational, the facility will have the capacity to produce two-and-a-half times the country’s current monthly requirement.

“This capacity is sufficient to replace split-set imports while allowing Tanzania to export the surplus to regional markets,” said Manek.

Mine-mesh production will be even higher, with the plant designed to produce about eight times the country’s current monthly requirement.

Manek said the additional capacity was developed deliberately to serve new underground mines, support mines transitioning from open pit to underground operations and meet demand in neighbouring markets.

“We are producing beyond the country’s present requirements because we are looking at Tanzania’s future underground mining needs as well as opportunities within the wider region,” said Manek. “We are confident that the country should not continue importing recurring consumables that can be manufactured locally.”

The company is targeting regional markets including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe, using Tanzania’s position and access through the Port of Dar es Salaam to establish the country as a regional manufacturing and supply hub.

Local production is also expected to shorten delivery times considerably. While imported mining consumables can take between eight and sixteen weeks to arrive, MES expects to supply locally manufactured products within days.

The investment supports Tanzania’s Mining Act and Local Content Regulations, which give preference to goods produced in the country and services provided by Tanzanian citizens and locally incorporated companies.