Chinese company Oriental Casting and Forging Ltd has announced plans to establish a factory for manufacturing steel grinding balls and other mining consumables at the Buzwagi Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region.The announcement follows a meeting between the Minister of Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, and the company's Managing Director, Hou Songcun.

Although the Government confirmed the investment intention, it has not yet released details about the project's value, the expected number of jobs or the construction schedule.Steel grinding balls are essential consumables used in mineral processing plants to crush and grind ore before mineral extraction.At present, many mining companies in Tanzania depend on imported grinding balls and related products.

By encouraging local production, the Government aims to reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic industrial capacity, improve supply chains and increase value addition within the mining sector.

The project also supports Tanzania's wider strategy of positioning itself as a regional manufacturing and distribution hub for mining consumables, enabling both large-scale and small-scale mining operators across Africa to access locally produced products.The planned factory will be located within the Buzwagi Special Economic Zone, which occupies the site of the former Buzwagi Gold Mine.

The mine, operated by Barrick until its closure in 2022 after around 13 years of production, is now being redeveloped into an industrial zone intended to diversify the local economy and create new industrial opportunities beyond gold mining.The project reflects Tanzania's continued efforts to promote industrialisation and expand local manufacturing linked to its mining sector.