Tanzania’s $1 billion Mkuju River uranium project is closing in on full-scale implementation, buoyed by a fresh wave of diplomatic engagement between Dar es Salaam and Moscow that has renewed confidence in one of Africa’s most strategically significant mining ventures.
Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde said discussions between Tanzanian and Russian leaders during President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s official visit to Russia had reinforced commitments toward advancing the project, which is expected to position Tanzania among Africa’s leading uranium producers. “The visit has added significant momentum to the project. We expect to see major developments within a relatively short period because several preparatory stages have already been completed,” Mavunde said.
The Mkuju River project, located in Namtumbo District in Ruvuma Region, is being developed by Mantra Tanzania Limited, a subsidiary of Russia’s Uranium One Group under Rosatom. It represents one of the largest uranium reserves in Tanzania, with estimated reserves of 182.1 million tonnes of ore. Once fully operational, it is projected to produce approximately 3,000 tonnes of uranium annually.
Mavunde described the project’s scale and potential in sweeping terms. “The Mkuju project is a flagship investment not only for the mining sector but also for the wider economy. Tanzania is among a small number of African countries with the opportunity to develop a uranium industry of this scale,” he said. The minister said the project would make Tanzania the third-largest uranium producer in Africa, after Niger and Namibia.
A key marker of progress was President Hassan’s commissioning of a pilot uranium processing plant last year. The milestone is widely regarded as the most significant breakthrough since the deposit was discovered. The pilot facility was established to test processing technologies under actual operating conditions while generating technical data needed to design the future industrial complex. Construction of the main facility is set to begin in early 2026, with commissioning expected in 2029.
Mavunde also pointed to recent activity on the ground as evidence that the project had moved well beyond planning. He noted the commencement of a bidding process for infrastructure development at the site. “Mining activities have already commenced within the framework provided by law. When you visit the site, there are clear signs that operational work is underway,” he said.
The road to this point has been far from smooth. In 2017, Mantra suspended further development of the project because of low uranium prices. The collapse in global uranium markets had followed Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, which triggered a prolonged slump in demand and froze investment in projects worldwide, including Mkuju River. For nearly 13 years, the project remained largely dormant after investors shelved plans for commercial extraction despite extensive exploration work and regulatory approvals.
The turnaround has been driven by a global shift in energy policy. A combination of rising demand for nuclear energy, stronger uranium market fundamentals, and renewed investor confidence has revived hopes that Tanzania could soon emerge as one of Africa’s newest uranium producers. Russia’s continued engagement through Rosatom has been central to that revival.
The project’s full-scale development is projected to create around 4,000 new jobs across Tanzania’s mining sector and associated industries. Additionally, the project will contribute significantly to the development of regional infrastructure, including upgrades to the road network in Namtumbo District. Beyond jobs and infrastructure, the mine is expected to yield substantial export revenue and draw further foreign investment into Tanzania’s extractive sector, outcomes that lend the project a significance that stretches well beyond the mining industry alone.
By: Andrews Kawsi Yeboah