Why uranium mining has yet to start in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania could finally start mining uranium after the completion of a strategic environmental assessment (SEA), the government has said.

This follows the discovery of uranium reserves in a national park.

Tanzania has discovered vast deposits of uranium, mainly in Namtumbo (Mkuju), Bahi, Galapo, Minjingu, Mbulu, Simanjiro, Lake Natron, Manyoni, Songea, Tunduru, Madaba and Nachingwea.

Proven uranium deposits in Tanzania were estimated at 55,000 tonnes as of 2022, but commercial mining has yet to start.

The commercially viable uranium deposits at Mkuju were first discovered in 1996 and significant investment has since been made.

Mkuju River represents one of the largest uranium reserves in Tanzania, having estimated reserves of 182.1 million tonnes of ore grading 0.025 percent uranium.

Minerals deputy minister Steven Kiruswa told The Citizen recently that the reserves are located within Nyerere National Park.

As such, it is imperative to conduct an SEA to determine if exploration can take place and if they do, what conditions should be adhered to.

“I understand that the process of identifying a company that will conduct the SEA is in its final stages with a tender having already been announced,” Dr Kiruswa said.

Tanzania Chamber of Mines executive secretary Benjamin Mchwampaka said the study is aimed at ensuring that the national park will not be affected.

“The assessment will seek to determine whether the proposed activity can be conducted in a way that aligns with conservation goals without harming the park’s environment. The process helps to identify potential negative impacts and propose mitigation measures to ensure that the park’s ecological integrity and biodiversity are preserved,” he said.

Mr Mchwampaka added that the ultimate goal is to balance developmental needs with conservation priorities, ensuring that any activity or project contributes positively to local communities and the environment while minimising any harmful effects.

Minerals minister Anthony Mavunde was recently quoted saying strategic environmental assessment is currently underway and, once completed, the country will proceed with the next step.

“An SEA must be conducted in an area earmarked for future uranium mining. Once this is completed, we will receive guidelines on what steps to follow next,” he said.

Reached for comment, Mantra Tanzania Limited sustainability manager Majani Wambura said they are aware of the study and are waiting for the results to determine the way forward.

According to reports, Mantra Tanzania has been actively involved in Tanzania since its significant uranium deposit discovery in 1996. The company has been channelling investments into the Mkuju River Project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped uranium deposits.

In May 2017, Unesco published the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) Reactive Monitoring Mission report, highlighting the Tanzanian government’s commitment to prohibiting mining in the Selous Game Reserve. The report indicated that 48 prospective mining concessions in the Selous were now off-limits, with no new concessions to be granted.

Despite these challenges, the 2024 Uranium Outlook Report highlights Tanzania as an emerging hotspot for uranium exploration due to its rich geology, skilled labour, and supportive mining policies. Africa’s uranium mining industry, led by Namibia, the world’s third-largest producer, shows significant promise. Tanzania’s growing profile as a uranium jurisdiction suggests substantial opportunities for investors amid the rising global demand and price of uranium.

In November 2022, Mr Kirill Komarov, the first deputy head of Russia’s Rosatom state nuclear energy corporation, was quoted saying the company expects to complete developing technologies in the next several years and then the start commercial mining of a uranium deposit in Tanzania.

“We have launched very serious work at this deposit as of today,” he said, noting that even the current level of uranium prices would render it “quite profitable” to mine there.

“We believe [that Tanzania] over the next several years will go through all the phases of pre-investment,” Mr Komarov said, noting that development of all technologies is also planned.