The ambiguity of transparency in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector of Tanzania
Pedersen AF, Nielsen JØ, Mempel F, Bager SL, Jønsson JB, Corbera E (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2021
Journal
Book Volume: 8
Article Number: 101004
Journal Issue: 4
DOI: 10.1016/j.exis.2021.101004
Abstract
This paper examines the newly established mineral markets in Tanzania. These markets aim to ensure tax revenue collection and enhance the transparency of mineral trade within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in the Geita Region, we show that the enhanced transparency facilitated by these new markets has benefitted artisanal and small-scale gold miners. However, the living conditions of the miners and opportunities for profit have not changed significantly and the miners do not expect that a more transparent value chain will improve their lives. Many miners continue to depend on sponsorships from more powerful actors, which narrows their ability to profit from transparent market structures. Based on these findings, we discuss the ambiguity of transparency, as its transformative potentials are both important and limited and we argue that transparency for small-scale producers is not a straightforward path towards their empowerment.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
Belgium (BE)
RSK Tanzania
Tanzania, United Republic of (TZ)
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain (ES)
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Germany (DE)
Belgium (BE)
RSK Tanzania
Tanzania, United Republic of (TZ)
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain (ES)
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Pedersen, A.F., Nielsen, J.Ø., Mempel, F., Bager, S.L., Jønsson, J.B., & Corbera, E. (2021). The ambiguity of transparency in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector of Tanzania. The Extractive Industries and Society, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2021.101004
MLA:
Pedersen, Anna Frohn, et al. "The ambiguity of transparency in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector of Tanzania." The Extractive Industries and Society 8.4 (2021).
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