Russia launches pilot nuclear project in African state

https://www.rt.com/africa/622314-russia-launches-pilot-uranium-processing-project-tanzania/

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Tanzania says it will become the third-largest uranium producer on the continent once Rosatom’s operations begin

A subsidiary of Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom has commissioned a pilot uranium processing plant in Tanzania to test technologies for a full-scale facility scheduled for construction next year, the state-owned corporation announced on Wednesday.

The initiative by Mantra Tanzania Ltd forms part of the Mkuju River Uranium Project (MRP) in southern Tanzania, Rosatom said in a press release. The local entity has operated in the East African country under Rosatom’s Uranium One Group for over a decade.

Rosatom said the main processing complex, set to be built in early 2026 and commissioned in 2029 following the test project at the Nyota deposit, will have a production capacity of up to 3,000 tons of uranium per year.

“Rosatom offers its advanced uranium processing technologies to develop Tanzania’s unique geological potential. We will be happy to help take an important step towards integration into the global nuclear energy industry,” Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev said.

The company said it is engaged in major international projects as part of Moscow’s growing cooperation with interested countries in Africa and elsewhere.

Commenting on the project, Andrey Maslov, head of the Center for African Studies at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, told RT:

“Mantra could potentially become a key Russian investment project not only in Tanzania, but also in the region. It is important that it’s integrated into added value chains closed to Russia and, at the same time, into the long-term development of south-west Tanzania, corresponding to the goals and objectives of the national Vision 2050, presented recently. The technical feasibility of the project is also not to be questioned, given the experience of Rosatom.”

State-owned Rosatom stated in July 2023 that it would begin pilot mining in Tanzania by 2025, when it also announced plans to start uranium production in Namibia by 2029, with investment expected to reach up to $500 million. Namibia is the leading uranium producer in Africa, followed by Niger, according to the latest data from the World Nuclear Association.

On Tuesday, Tanzania’s Ministry of Minerals said the country is set to become Africa’s third-largest uranium producer once operations begin at the MRP site in Namtumbo District.

“It has been found that there are 54,000 tons of uranium, which, according to the reserves, will be produced for 12 years and attract large foreign investment (FDI) of more than 3.6 trillion shillings [about $1.4 billion],” the ministry said, citing recent research.

According to Rosatom, the project will create more than 4,000 new jobs in Tanzania’s extractive sector and related industries during the construction and operation phases. It is also expected to support regional infrastructure development, including upgrades to the road network in the Namtumbo area.