The Tanzanian Ministry of Energy and Minerals, with funding from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), has launched a project to upgrade their Mining Cadastre Information Management System (MCIMS) to support online transactions and provide an integrated geo-portal for all stakeholders in the mining sector to interact with the Ministry via modern web-based technologies.
“The Ministry of Energy and Minerals manages one of the most complex mineral rights portfolios globally. With around 40,000 active mineral rights, owned by around 30,000 companies and individuals and managed through Government offices spread around the country, the Ministry has always looked to leverage modern technology to manage the mining sector in a transparent and efficient manner. This latest initiative will see Tanzania propelled to the forefront globally in terms of e-Government initiatives in the mining sector,” said Mr Bill Feast, Chief Executive Officer of Spatial Dimension*.
“The introduction of a transactional Mining Cadastre Portal is a very important step in our effort to enhance transparency and good governance in the mineral sector; as well as improving management of mineral licences in Tanzania. The portal will serve people at the Ministry Headquarters and at our 21 regional offices, with new 4 regional offices expected to open up in the next two years,” said Eng. Paul Masanja, the Commissioner for Minerals in Tanzania.
“Spatial Dimension’s involvement with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals stretches back almost a decade, when we first implemented our mining cadastre solution, FlexiCadastre, for the Ministry under a Nordic Development Fund project. Since that time the Ministry has looked to optimise and improve the way they conducted business, in an attempt to not only manage existing mining and exploration activities effectively, but also to generate responsible investments in the country. Approximately 100,000 applications have been processed, resulting in over 43,000 licenses being granted in Tanzania since FlexiCadastre was first implemented.”
“This latest initiative will see the existing MCIMS upgraded to provide a public facing mining cadastre geo-portal that will allow for stakeholders to apply for mineral rights, maintain their existing rights, submit reports and production returns electronically and undertake online payments, including by using mobile money (for example M-Pesa).”
“In addition the geo-portal will also provide access to the vast geo-data repositories of the Ministry and the Geological Survey of Tanzania. Where appropriate these datasets will be available for purchase and download.”
“The provision of a transactional online mining cadastre portal, with real-time access to geo-data will greatly improve both investor confidence and interest in the mining sector in Tanzania. It also aligns nicely with another ambitious World Bank initiative – the Billion Dollar Map Project for Africa,” concluded Mr Feast.
*Trimble acquired Spatial Dimension on September 2, 2015. FlexiCadastre is now part of the Landfolio software suite.