RUVUMA (Tanzania), July 21 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — THE Tanzanian government has said that the strategic uranium mining project will commence soon after the completion of the construction of a pilot plant for smelting the minerals.
Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde revealed this during his recent tour of Namtumbo District to inspect the progress of the project being implemented by Mantra Tanzania Limited at an estimated cost of over 3.06tri/-.
One of the priorities of the sixth phase government, under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the mining sector, is adding value to minerals within our country and she has given specific directives to the ministry to oversee this,” said Mavunde.
He added, “the commencement of this project, which also involves the construction of a uranium value addition plant, demonstrates the government’s commitment to implementing this goal in practice. In this regard, we at the Ministry of Minerals will continue to provide full oversight to ensure it benefits our country.”
The presence of uranium deposits estimated at 139 million tonnes, gives the mine a projected lifespan of 22 years, positioning Tanzania on the global map as one of the top 10 countries with the largest uranium production.
He said in addition to over 4,000 direct jobs, the project is expected to create more than 100,000 indirect employment opportunities.
He said that Mantra Company has begun discussions with the government to ensure the construction of a power plant that will use uranium extracted from the mine to generate electricity.
The minister said that the project is set to transform the image of Namtumbo as it will impact the lives of many residents living around the project area.
Earlier, while giving an overview of the project, Mantra Project Development Manager, Majani Moremi, thanked the government for its cooperation, which enabled the project to commence successfully.
He pledged that the project will bring significant benefits and the expected success to the country.
For his part, Ruvuma Regional Commissioner Ahmed Abbas thanked President Samia for creating a friendly investment environment in the country, which made it possible for the project to be implemented in Ruvuma Region.
In May this year, President Samia directed authorities in charge of overseeing the country’s uranium resources to begin immediate preparations for production, including using the mineral to generate electricity for domestic use.
She said Tanzania can no longer afford to sit on its uranium deposits while other countries are using the resource as a key component of their energy mix.
She described nuclear power as a viable solution to Tanzania’s growing energy demands, adding that the country’s current uranium reserves, estimated at 58,500 tonnes, should first benefit Tanzanians before any exports are considered. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
