The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Tanzanian President John Magufuli has signed into law new mining bills which require the government to own at least a 16-per-cent share of mining projects. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that the laws, which also increase royalties tax on gold and other minerals, were passed by parliament last week. Mr. Magufuli reiterated on Monday that no new mining licences would be issued until Tanzania "puts things in order" and that the government would review all existing mining licences with foreign investors. The new mining laws, which were fast-tracked through parliament, raise the royalties tax for gold, copper, silver and platinum exports to 6 per cent from 4 per cent. They also give the government the right to tear up and renegotiate contracts for natural resources such as gas or minerals and remove the right to international arbitration. Passage of the new legislation followed months of wrangling between the government and London-listed gold miner Acacia Mining PLC over mining contracts after Mr. Magufuli decided in March to ban exports of gold and copper concentrates to push for the construction of a domestic mineral smelter.