Tanzania has officially entered the nuclear mineral age with the launch of a $1.2 billion uranium extraction project in collaboration with Russia’s Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear energy giant. Anchored at the Mkuju River Project in the southern region of Namtumbo, this initiative marks the single most ambitious mining and energy infrastructure development in Tanzania’s history—one that positions the East African nation at the forefront of the continent’s nuclear energy ambitions and rare mineral economy.
A National Milestone in Strategic Resource Development
Launched under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the project is more than a mining venture—it is a calculated step in Tanzania’s long-term industrialisation agenda. At the heart of the plan is a $400 million uranium processing plant, inaugurated as part of a broader 20-year strategy to extract and refine up to 300,000 tonnes of uranium ore, with the aim of producing 3,000 tonnes of yellowcake annually after initial pilot production.
READ ALSO: Afrobeats in Review: Creative Infrastructure, Global Wins
For Tanzania, the significance is twofold. First, it unlocks the country’s underutilised uranium reserves, particularly those held in the estimated 152 million tonnes of ore at the Mkuju River site. Second, it solidifies Tanzania’s strategy to diversify its mineral exports beyond traditional commodities like gold and tanzanite, tapping into minerals that align with the future of global energy—especially low-carbon sources like nuclear power.
“This project reflects Tanzania’s commitment to responsibly tap into its natural resources to support sustainable development,” said President Hassan, underlining her administration’s vision to transform extractive industries into engines of broad-based economic growth.
The Rosatom Partnership: Nuclear Expertise Meets African Potential
Rosatom’s involvement adds global credibility and technical muscle to the venture. Through its subsidiary, Uranium One, Rosatom brings not just mining expertise but advanced uranium processing technologies and access to global nuclear supply chains. Rosatom already plays a major role in Africa’s nuclear future—supplying uranium to South Africa’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and forming nuclear education partnerships across the continent.
The Director General of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to sustainable development standards and mutual cooperation. “We intend to build cooperation with the republic on the basis of equality and mutual understanding,” he said, stressing the importance of environmental safeguards and long-term regional collaboration.
Regional Impact: Tanzania as a Nuclear-Grade Mineral Hub
This initiative propels Tanzania into a new league of African nations engaging deeply with the nuclear energy value chain—not just as raw material suppliers, but as processing and exporting hubs. It echoes a wider trend: African countries are repositioning themselves to benefit from the global pivot toward clean, reliable, base-load energy sources like nuclear power.
Currently, over 10 African nations are exploring nuclear power with a combined target of 15 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2035. In this context, Tanzania’s uranium strategy is not merely national—it is continental. The success of the Mkuju River project could catalyse similar initiatives in countries like Namibia, Niger, and Zambia, and shape Africa’s collective role in the future energy landscape.
Why This Matters for Africa’s Energy Future
Uranium is a cornerstone of nuclear power, which is increasingly seen as essential to meeting climate goals and balancing energy grids reliant on intermittent renewables. As Western nations restart dormant nuclear programs and countries like China and India expand theirs, demand for uranium is expected to surge. Tanzania’s entry into this market, supported by Rosatom’s infrastructure and global market access, ensures it does not remain a bystander in the 21st-century energy transition.
Moreover, by owning a stake in value-added processes like refining and yellowcake production, Tanzania gains leverage in global negotiations and a share of downstream economic returns—something most resource-rich but processing-poor countries in Africa have long struggled with.
Balancing Opportunity with Responsibility
Still, the project is not without challenges. Environmental groups and civil society actors have raised alarms over issues such as radioactive waste management, potential water contamination, and the displacement of local communities. Tanzania’s government maintains that the initiative complies with international environmental protocols and has pledged ongoing monitoring. But public trust will hinge on transparency, accountability, and robust community engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
Conclusion: A Bold Move, A Defining Moment
Tanzania’s uranium extraction initiative represents a rare intersection of mineral wealth, geopolitical partnership, and long-term economic vision. It is a definitive step in the country’s industrial evolution and a signal to the world that Tanzania intends to shape—not just supply—the energy transition of the future.
As uranium regains strategic relevance and nuclear energy returns to global discourse, Tanzania is poised to be more than a silent participant. It now stands as a potential leader in Africa’s emerging nuclear mineral economy—where clean energy ambitions meet economic opportunity on African soil.
If well-executed, the Mkuju River project could serve as a model for how African nations can leverage global partnerships to responsibly develop strategic resources, build local capacity, and claim a rightful place in the global energy order.
