The export ban is seen by some as the latest manifestation of a populist drive affecting politics worldwide, amid a backlash to globalisation most obviously characterised by Donald Trump's rise to the White House.

Perth-based Tanga Resources director John Stockley will fly to Tanzania on Monday for talks with local ministers after the country slapped a ban on the export of mineral concentrates and ores for metallic minerals, including gold, copper, nickel and silver.

"If the Tanzanians wish to encourage foreign investment, they're not helping by making these sorts of announcements," Mr Stockley said.

Tanga has what it describes as a high-grade gold prospect in Tanzania and Mr Stockley said in six years of exploration in the country, the company had never had trouble.

But despite some initial confusion as to the scope of the ban, first announced by Tanzania's Ministry of Energy and Minerals on March 2, Mr Stockley said his local staff appeared confident the export of gold bars would not be stopped and so was not too upset.

"I think it is part of this worldwide populism that politicians are spouting for local consumption," Mr Stockley said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australia was "closely monitoring" the new business policies and regulations in Tanzania for any impact these changes may have on Australian investment interests - but the government has not yet directly made diplomatic representations in response to the ban.

Several Australian firms have interests in graphite, mineral sands and rare earths in Tanzania, including Magnis Resources, Strandline Resources and Peak Resources, but all have been assured they are unaffected.

Tanzania was seen as a darling of Africa's mining boom a decade ago but views are mixed as to the future, whether the ban is just part of the usual risk of doing business in poorer countries or a sign of further problems to come.

Tanzania's leader John Magufuli, who won the nation's top job in 2015, has called for the processing or refining of metallic minerals in the country.

The export ban has had the most immediate impact on London-listed giant Acacia, headed by Australian-born CEO Brad Gordon, which operates three mines in Tanzania.

A spokesman for Acacia told Fairfax Media the company did not have any further update to a statement earlier this month that it was "urgently seeking further clarification from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals".

Gerald Mturi from the Tanzania Chamber of Minerals and Energy in Dar es Salaam said only that a press statement would soon be released.

OreCorp Limited, an ASX-listed development company from Perth, has a joint venture with Acacia for the Nyanzaga gold project in north-west Tanzania, but did not respond to inquiries.

"Any government making unilateral decisions is worrying and of concern," said Tim Goyder of Perth-based Liontown Resources, which has lithium exploration assets in Tanzania. "But fundamentally, we're very optimistic on the geology and future of Tanzania."