Tanganyika Mining Burundi
Tanganyika Mining Burundi is a Burundian public-private mining enterprise established to develop and operate the Cimba gold deposit in Cibitoke Province.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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History
The Cimba mining project developed through several stages of exploration, licensing and public-private restructuring. In May 2013, Ets Jbelli received a three-year permit to prospect for gold across an area of approximately 516.9 square kilometres near Mabayi in Cibitoke Province. The permit was renewed in September 2016 under Tanganyika Gold S.A., a Russian company that subsequently became the private-sector partner in the project. In October 2017, Tanganyika Gold received a 25-year licence to mine gold at Cimba. The deposit was described as containing estimated quantities of gold, copper and silver. The site was inaugurated by Burundi's president on 31 October 2017. Two months later, Decree No. 100/250 of 29 December 2017 authorized Burundi's participation in Tanganyika Mining Burundi, a public-private enterprise assigned to exploit the deposit and its associated minerals. The agreed ownership structure gave the state a 15 percent interest in return for transferring the relevant subsoil rights. Tanganyika Gold was to retain 85 percent and finance or carry out construction, development, mining operations and rehabilitation. In July 2018, the mining minister described a timetable for clearing the land, importing machinery and installing the processing and mining equipment. Production was expected to begin in December 2018, but the available sources do not establish whether industrial production actually commenced at that time or reached commercial scale. The project subsequently faced social and regulatory opposition. In May 2021, residents whose land was affected by the mining operation blocked roads to the sites and demanded compensation. The dispute concerned land impacts and the distribution of benefits from the project, and local authorities were reported to have backed the residents. In the same period, Burundi began reassessing foreign mining agreements as part of a wider attempt to obtain greater public benefit and enforce sector rules. On 15 July 2021, the Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines temporarily suspended TMB's activities. The ministry cited multiple alleged irregularities, including problems with compensation, extraction practices, ore processing, environmental mitigation and rehabilitation. President Evariste Ndayishimiye had earlier decided that foreign mining contracts should be suspended and renegotiated. The suspension therefore formed part of a broader national mining-policy intervention rather than an isolated operational announcement. The social effects remained unresolved in subsequent reporting. By November 2022, approximately 120 families were reported still to be awaiting compensation for damaged land. Artisanal miners had also reportedly been prevented from continuing their work and had become unemployed. In December 2022, President Ndayishimiye stated that Burundi's subsoil wealth had benefited only a small group instead of supporting national economic recovery. The government responded with measures intended to strengthen regulation and channel mineral sales through official institutions. Those measures included allowing artisanal gold cooperatives to resume under contracts with the Ministry of Mines. Cooperatives were required to sell gold directly to the Central Bank and transfer 30 percent of production to the state. The reference material does not state whether these changes led to the reopening of TMB, the completion of contract renegotiations, a change in ownership or the abandonment of the Cimba project. TMB's present operational status therefore remains uncertain.
- 2022
Government strengthens mineral-sector controls
[1]Burundi announced stronger regulation of mineral production and rules governing artisanal gold cooperatives and official gold sales.
- 2021
Community protest over compensation
[1]Residents affected by the project blocked roads to demand compensation for their land.
- 2021
Mining activities suspended
[1]The mining ministry temporarily suspended TMB's activities while citing alleged mining-code violations and operational irregularities.
- 2018
Construction and production schedule announced
[1]The mining minister announced plans for land clearance, equipment importation and installation, targeting production in December 2018.
- 2017
Cimba mining licence issued
[1]Tanganyika Gold received a 25-year licence for gold mining at the Cimba site in Mabayi.
- 2017
Cimba site inaugurated
[1]Burundi's president inaugurated the Cimba gold mining site.
- 2017
Public-private enterprise authorized
[1]A December decree authorized Burundi's 15 percent participation in TMB, with Tanganyika Gold holding 85 percent.
- 2016
Prospecting permit renewed under Tanganyika Gold
[1]The exploration permit was renewed in the name of Tanganyika Gold S.A.
- 2013
Initial prospecting permit granted
[1]Ets Jbelli received a three-year permit to prospect for gold over approximately 516.9 square kilometres near Mabayi in Cibitoke Province.
Products and positioning
A state-partnered industrial mining venture focused on developing Burundi's Cimba gold deposit and associated mineral resources.
Mineral commodity · 2017
Gold
Gold is the principal mineral targeted by the Cimba project. The site received a long-term gold-mining licence in 2017 and was developed as the core asset of Tanganyika Mining Burundi. The reference material describes an estimated 14 tonnes of gold in the deposit, but does not specify whether this figure represents a measured, indicated or inferred resource, nor does it confirm sustained commercial production.
Associated mineral
Copper
Copper is identified as an associated mineral at the Cimba deposit. The reference material reports an estimated 36,000 tonnes of copper, but does not describe a separate copper production line, processing method or commercial output.
Associated mineral
Silver
Silver is another associated mineral reported at Cimba, with an estimated 16 tonnes cited in the available material. No separate silver operation or verified production data is provided.
Controversies
2022
Unresolved claims by affected families and artisanal miners
Reporting cited by the reference material stated that about 120 families had not received compensation for damaged land and that artisanal miners had lost access to their previous work.
2021
Land compensation and mining-code allegations
TMB faced protests from residents seeking compensation for affected land. The mining ministry later suspended the company's activities, citing alleged irregularities in compensation, mining, ore processing, environmental mitigation and site rehabilitation.
Brand decisions
2022
Greater state control over mineral salesStrategyBackground
The president criticized the concentration of benefits from Burundi's mineral wealth and called for stronger regulation.
Action taken
Artisanal gold cooperatives were required to operate under ministry contracts, sell gold directly to the Central Bank and allocate 30 percent of production to the state.
Aftermath
The available material does not describe the direct effect of these rules on TMB's suspended Cimba operations.
2021
Temporary suspension and contract reviewStrategyBackground
Burundi began reviewing foreign mining agreements amid concerns about public returns, regulatory compliance and the social effects of mining projects.
Action taken
The government suspended TMB's activities and pursued a broader review and renegotiation of foreign mining contracts.
Aftermath
The reference material does not establish whether TMB resumed operations or completed a revised agreement.
2018
Planned launch of Cimba productionProduct launchBackground
Following the site's inauguration and public-private agreement, the government outlined a timetable for preparing the mine and installing equipment.
Action taken
The mining ministry announced a schedule intended to begin production in December 2018.
Aftermath
The available sources do not confirm whether production began or achieved commercial scale.
2017
Establishment of a public-private mining companyStrategyBackground
Burundi sought to participate in the development of the Cimba deposit while assigning construction and operational responsibilities to Tanganyika Gold S.A.
Action taken
The state took a 15 percent interest in TMB in exchange for the relevant subsoil contribution, while Tanganyika Gold was assigned an 85 percent interest and responsibility for development, operations and rehabilitation.
Aftermath
The project proceeded toward construction but was later affected by community compensation disputes and regulatory intervention.
Recent events
- 2022
Burundi tightens oversight of mineral production[1]
Regulation
The president said that mineral wealth had benefited too few people and announced regulatory measures. Artisanal gold cooperatives were permitted to resume under ministry contracts, with direct sales to the Central Bank and a state share of production.
- 2018
Production target announced for the Cimba project[1]
Product launch · Other
The mining minister outlined a construction schedule involving land clearance, equipment imports and installation, with production targeted for December 2018. The available source does not confirm whether the target was met.
- 2017
Tanganyika Gold receives a long-term licence for the Cimba gold site[1]
Other
Tanganyika Gold S.A. was granted a 25-year licence to mine gold at the Cimba site in Mabayi, Cibitoke Province. The deposit was reported to contain gold with associated copper and silver.
- 2017
Burundi authorizes its participation in Tanganyika Mining Burundi[1]
M&A
A presidential decree authorized the creation of a public-private structure in which the Burundian state would hold 15 percent and Tanganyika Gold S.A. would hold 85 percent, with TMB responsible for developing and operating the Cimba project.
- 2017
Cimba mining site inaugurated[1]
Product launch · Other
The president of Burundi inaugurated the Cimba gold mining site in Mabayi.
Sources1 sources
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