A Tanzanian owned graphite mining project plans to start producing 800 tonnes of the mineral per day once its current project extension concludes in October this year.
This will make Tanzania be among the top 5 graphite producing countries globally.
The graphite mining project is owned by Godmwanga Jems Limited at Kwamsisi in Handeni district in Tanga region.It is the first of its kind in Tanzania and 10th world wide.
The project manager, Henri Joseph says the project plans to produce 800 tonnes of graphite per day as soon as a new extension construction is completed in October this year.
He says their project has focused on producing strategic minerals which have significant demand globally currently used for making batteries for electronic cars,mobile phone batteries,oil,grease and pencils.
So far, the firm says that it has succeeded to get markets for their products in China and India.
It adds that it has contributed socially to the surrounding communities through constructing a health centre worth 200m Tanzania shillings,6 classes at Kitumbi secondary school and repairing the Judiciary building and the Kwamsisi secondary school laboratory.