Mohammed Dewji, the president and CEO of MeTL Group, plans to build a graphite processing and refining plant in Tanzania [1].

This move represents a strategic shift for the region, aiming to transition from exporting raw materials to producing high-value components for electric-vehicle batteries. By refining graphite domestically, Tanzania can capture a larger share of the global battery supply chain and reduce dependence on overseas processing.

Investment estimates for the project vary between $250 million [3] and $275 million [2]. The facility is designed to reach a planned annual processing capacity of 50,000 tonnes [3]. Dewji said the plant is expected to be operational by next year [3].

Dewji is focusing on the growing demand for critical minerals as the global race to produce electric vehicles accelerates [2]. The project aims to transform raw graphite into battery-grade material within the country's borders, a process that typically happens in other nations after the ore is mined in Africa.

"Africa should process more of its critical minerals before export to create greater value," Dewji said [3].

The initiative aligns with broader efforts across the continent to industrialize the mining sector. By establishing local refining capabilities, the MeTL Group intends to create a more sustainable economic model that prioritizes value addition over the simple extraction of natural resources [2].

“"Africa should process more of its critical minerals before export to create greater value."”

This investment signals a move toward 'resource nationalism' in the critical minerals sector, where African nations seek to move up the value chain. By refining graphite locally, Tanzania reduces its vulnerability to raw commodity price swings and positions itself as a strategic partner for EV manufacturers who require stable, processed mineral supplies.