The Tanzanian government has renewed the operating licences for the North Mara gold mine, operated by Barrick Gold, for 15 years. Announced on 5 October 2026, this renewal secures one of East Africa's main gold assets and sends a positive signal to mining investors active on the continent.
North Mara, a pillar of Tanzanian gold
Located in the Mara region in north-western Tanzania, North Mara is one of the country's most productive mines, with attributable production of 249,000 ounces in 2025. The first half of 2026 saw a technical dip due to the composition of ore processed, but the annual target range remains between 200,000 and 230,000 ounces.
Barrick holds an 84% stake, with the Tanzanian government retaining 16%. Since 2019, Barrick's Tanzanian operations — North Mara and Bulyanhulu — have contributed $5.3 billion to the country's economy, including $1.2 billion in the past year alone. Proven and probable reserves stand at 3.2 million ounces at end-2025 (43 million tonnes at 2.32 g/t).
A strong signal for mining investors
The 15-year licence renewal — the previous licences were already renewed for the same duration in 2012 — represents a rare signal of institutional stability in the African mining sector. For Barrick, which experienced a period of legal disputes with Dar es-Salaam between 2017 and 2019, it confirms that the current public-private partnership framework is working.
Barrick is also studying improvements to remove processing bottlenecks and a potential expansion of the North Mara-Bulyanhulu complex — which could sustain long-term production.
Tanzania reassuring for investors
The renewal comes in a favourable context: the World Bank projects 6.1% growth for Tanzania in 2026, and the Samia government has made mining attractiveness a priority. Barrick's 15-year licence renewal sends a signal that junior explorers and other operators will watch carefully.
Why it matters
In a context where gold remains a safe haven and African strategic metals are attracting record capital, securing Tanzanian mining titles for 15 years signals that Dar es-Salaam is a reliable long-term partner for investors.
Sources: Northern Miner, Barrick Gold, TanzaniaInvest, Mining Weekly — 5 October 2026.