Tanzania Tour Operators Urge Continued Ban on Lake Natron Soda Ash Mining
The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) has reiterated its firm opposition to any attempts to revive soda ash extraction projects at Lake Natron, citing major environmental and economic risks. The organisation supports previous government decisions to block such developments, including NEMC’s refusal to approve environmental impact assessments and the Ministry of Minerals’ redirection of mining interests toward alternative sites like Engaruka.
Lake Natron, a key breeding site for East Africa’s lesser flamingos and a globally important ecological site, plays a vital role in Tanzania’s nature-based tourism offering. TATO emphasises that tourism contributes over USD 3.9 billion annually to the national economy and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, far outweighing the short-term gains of extractive industries. The association calls for strengthened environmental governance, international conservation partnerships, and development models that prioritise eco-tourism and community livelihoods.
