TANZANIA, Aug. 20 -- FOR years, the conversation around Tanzanias mineral wealth has largely focused on what the country earns from mining through taxes, royalties, fees and other government revenues.

That picture is gradually changing.

The government is increasingly taking direct ownership positions in mining projects, giving it an interest not only in revenues generated from mineral extraction but also in the companies developing and operating those projects.

To date, the government holds shares in 16 mining companies through the Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR), up from 10 projects in the 2024/25 financial year.

Another nine projects are at an advanced stage of negotiations with the government and, if successfully concluded, ...