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New Uranium Mining Projects - Tanzania
(last updated 9 Jan 2018)
Tanzania
General · Madaba · Mkuju River (Mantra Res.) · Mkuju (UAL) · Manyoni
> See also Issues for: Operating Mines · Decommissioning Projects · Legislation & Regulations > See also Data for: Deposits, Proposed and Active Mines · Old Mines and Decommissioning
In Tanzania, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by Uranium Africa Limited , Omegacorp Ltd, Mantra Resources Ltd, URA Holdings plc. , Sabre Resources Ltd , Resgreen Group International Inc. , Trimark Explorations Ltd., IBI Corporation , Gambaro Resources, Douglas Lake Minerals Inc. , Canaco Resources Inc. , Sub-Sahara Resources NL , Korea Resources Corp. , Tanganyika Uranium Corp. , Troll Mining Ltd, Jacana Resources Ltd , Globe Metals & Mining Ltd , Atomic Minerals Ltd , Universal Power Corp. , Central Iron Ore Ltd , VIPR Industries Inc. , Minergy Tanzania Ltd (Mauritius), Peak Resources Ltd , Kinti Mining Ltd , Kilimanjaro Mining Company, Inc. , Edenville Energy Plc , Japan Oil, Gas and Metal National Corporation , Kibo Mining PLC , Tanzania Minerals Corp. , Karoo Exploration Corp. , IBIS Resources Ltd., Baseline Resources Ltd., Japan Investment Co Ltd., Frontier Resources Ltd., Sterling Resources Ltd., Nyanza Goldfields Ltd., Pula Group LLC , WTF Resources Ltd., Bahati Investment and Mining General Co Ltd., Mineral Evaluation Ltd., Vision Geosources Co Ltd, TanzOz Uranium Ltd , Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd , Rift Valley Resources Ltd
> View Interactive Tanzania Mining Cadastre Map (Ministry of Energy and Minerals)
Uranium mining in Tanzania is being opposed by Civil Education is the Solution for Poverty and Environmental Management (CESOPE)
General
EU project looks into regulatory issues connected to proposed uranium mining in the sub-Saharan region and associated cross-boundary uranium transports: This project looks in particular into the proposed transport of uranium ore concentrate from Tanzania to Namibia through Malawi and Zambia. > View here
Tanzania opposition MP Tundu Lissu wounded by gunmen: Tanzanian opposition lawmaker Tundu Lissu, a fierce critic of President John Magufuli's government, was seriously wounded in a gun attack on Thursday (Sep. 7), police and party officials said. Human rights groups condemned the shooting as a "cowardly attack". Tundu was active in Human Rights issues and critical of the extractive industries based on his experiences; in the 1990's, he had confronted Barrick Gold about the forcible removal of artisanal gold miners which obviously had led to the death of 50 miners. Tundu was invited for the conference 'Human Rights, Future Generations and Crimes of the Nuclear Age ' in Basel, Switzerland, on 14. - 17. Sep 2017. He wanted to report about uranium mining in a nature reserve in Selous. (uranium-network.org Sep. 8, 2017)
Report calls for tight regulation of uranium mining in Tanzania: > View here
Uranium discovered in northern Tanzania: There are traces of uranium at Lake Jipe, located in northern Tanzania according to preliminary findings by the Tanzania Minerals Audit Agency (TMAA). TMAA's Planning and Research Development Manager, Julius Moshi told East African Business Week the geologists are currently conducting tests to determine the quantity and economic viability of the uranium. The discovery of uranium in Mwanga, Kilimanjaro (Northern Tanzania), brings to four regions where uranium deposits have been found. (East African Business Week Aug. 12, 2013)
Analyst advises caution on uranium mining safety: Stringent measures must be taken to ensure that uranium mining does not compromise the safety of people and the environment, an academician has suggested. Dr Priva M. Moshi of Tumaini University, Masoka Campus in Moshi, said Tanzania must learn from other countries on the necessary safety measures needed in uranium mining before commencement of extraction of the radio-active mineral. "Uranium mining has been problematic even in the developed countries because of its life-threatening hazards. Are we ready for its catastrophe?" he asked during a forum which ended here yesterday (Sunday) on Post 2015 Global Development Agenda. He said before mining of the mineral commences, adequate safety measures must be put in place, noting that experiences of other countries should be taken on board to contain any harmful radiation that people may get exposed to. (The Citizen Dec. 31, 2012) Tanzania's defence minister urges strengthening of armed forces in wake of discoveries of uranium and other resources: In the wake of new discoveries of uranium, gas and ongoing oil exploration, Tanzania is becoming vulnerable to attacks from outside and is keen on strengthening its armed forces. Defence Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha said here that as the country gets richer in natural resource reserves, it also becomes a potential target for enemies from within and outside the borders, including overseas countries that may want to plunder such riches. (Daily News Dec. 3, 2012)
NGO calls for halt of uranium mining projects in Tanzania until public is educated on hazards: Tanzania should stop implementation of uranium mining projects until the public is well sensitized and educated on its serious side effects to human and environments. Apart from education, activists have also cautioned on the possible health and environmental effects calling for companies' maximum commitment and precautions on possible environmental hazards. Speaking to reporters in Dares Salaam, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Acting Executive Director Ms Imelda Urio said the centre has discovered the government is almost done with at least two potential uranium investors but cautioned the mining activities should be halted first until a clear policy, regulations and legislation on the same are in place. “The government has to stop all the processes regarding the uranium mining until necessary intervention are drafted first apart from public education which is equally very important,” said Ms Imelda Urio, the Centre’s Acting Executive Director. She added that the government should not rush into uranium mining without gathering enough local expertise on how to go about hazards that are likely to cause countless effects and massive loses to people and environment. Other areas to be considered before the mining according to her include the fact that a lot of water, power and land will be needed for the major undertaking and whether the government was ready to make sure those facilities are readily available without causing any harm. (Daily News Nov. 28, 2012)
New report points out hazards of proposed uranium mining in Tanzania and deficiencies in regulatory framework: "This report draws our attention to two important factors. First, it highlights negative impacts of uranium mining and related health hazards on human and livestock, and its long lasting impact on the environment. Secondly, the report highlights the gaps and weaknesses in the mining policy and legal framework in relation to uranium mining." > Download: Uranium Mining in Tanzania: Are We Ready? Community Scoping Study in the Exploration Areas and the Legal Framework, by Evans Rubara, jointly published by: Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) and Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT), August 2012
Christian Council of Tanzania cautions government over uranium extraction: The Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) has cautioned the government over uranium extraction, saying that the country should focus on capacity building first. The CCT Chairman, Dr Peter Kitula, said this at a press briefing in Dar es Salaam on Monday (June 11), which came in the wake of the CCT's Executive Board meeting in Dodoma over the weekend. "We thank God for having blessed us with various types of minerals. Of late, uranium deposits have been discovered in Ruvuma, Dodoma and Singida regions but we believe it is not the right time to engage uranium mining," he noted. Bishop Kitula noted that the CCT's concern on the matter comes after considering incidents like the one which took place in Japan a few months ago where several people were affected following a nuclear accident. "We are witnessing Japan and Germany closing up nuclear electricity sources amid the fear that the source which is a product of uranium can cause devastating harm to humans and living organisms," he said. (Daily News June 12, 2012)
20,000 signatures against uranium mining handed over to Tanzanian embassy in Germany: On Sep. 2, 2011, 20,000 signatures against uranium mining in Tanzania were handed over to the embassy of Tanzania in Berlin. The signatures were collected in Germany by NGOs uranium-network.org , Rettet den Regenwald , tanzania-network.de , and NABU International . (NABU International Naturschutzstiftung Sep. 2, 2011)
Motion against uranium mining to be tabled in parliament: An MP expects to table a private motion in the October Bunge [National Assembly] session to block extraction of uranium in the country. Mr Tindu Lissu, the Singida East MP (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo, Chadema), said his decision follows a petition signed by over 3,000 wananchi [people] from Bahi District in Dodoma and Manyoni in Singida which he had received. He said they decided to write the petition, which he expects to table as a private motion, after learning that the government has granted a license for uranium extraction in their area to Mantra Resources Limited. He said the petition was signed last Saturday (July 16) in Bahi after launching of the economic and social effects of uranium report. He said a team of activists conducted a research to find out the effect of uranium extraction. (The Citizen July 20, 2011)
Tanzania "eyeing the world's biggest uranium producer slot": When opening the new offices of the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission in Arusha, President Jakaya Kikwete said Tanzania was eyeing the world's biggest uranium producer slot. "If all the reserves we have are fully exploited, Tanzania can become the seventh leading uranium producers in the world," said Kikwete. Already Mantra Resources and a Russian firm ARMZ have entered into a joint venture to mine uranium. Tanzania has so far confirmed the presence of multiple thick zones of sandstone-hosted uranium mineralisation at shallow depths at the Nyota Prospect. An Inferred Mineral Resource of 35.9 million pounds (U3O8) [13,808 t U] has been estimated for the Prospect, Kikwete said this initial resource estimate is based on drilling that covers only a small part of the total area of the Prospect, and the potential exists to substantially grow the resource base with ongoing work. (The East African May 2, 2011)
Japanese Company signs mineral exploration deal with Tanzania: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Japan Oil, Gas and Metal National Corporation (JOGMEC) and the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) will see the two institutions join efforts to explore and assess mineral resources in the country. Minister of Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja noted that a big portion of Tanzania had not been geologically surveyed; areas that are mostly in the Southern parts of the country, saying that there are a lot of mineral resources that have not yet been discovered. "Preliminary studies in these areas have revealed abundant alluvial gold deposits in the Mbwemkuru River Basin, nickel occurrences in Nachingwea, uranium occurrences in Namtumbo district and various gemstones in the Mhuwesi River Basin," he explained. (Daily News Dec. 7, 2010)
Areva eyes Tanzanian uranium: French energy group Areva is interested in developing Tanzania's uranium deposits, a senior executive told Reuters. Tanzania has at least 54 million pounds of uranium oxide [20,769 t U] deposits and expects to start mining some of it by 2011. (Reuters May 7, 2010)
Tanzania to develop uranium deposits: In the wake of encouraging surveys of the country's uranium deposits, Tanzania's government is developing a policy on nuclear energy. Dar es Salaam Daily News reported on July 24 that Tanzania's Minister of Communications, Science and Technology Professor Peter Msolla said the country's rich uranium deposits in Dodoma and Ruvuma will be developed to allow the country to generate electricity [!]. (UPI July 24, 2009)
Uranium extraction in Tanzania to start in 2011: Tanzania plans to start uranium extraction in three years, according to Energy and Minerals minister, William Ngeleja. (Tanzania Guardian March 21, 2009)
Madaba exploration project
Ownership change: On Aug. 5, 2016, Uranium Africa Limited announced that it has acquired the Madaba Uranium Project. Uranium Africa Limited was formed in a demerger from Magnis Resources Limited (formerly Uranex Ltd).
Ownership change: As of September 11, 2015, East Africa Resources Limited was acquired by Threat Protect Australia Limited , in a reverse merger transaction. (Bloomberg)
Full EIA not required for Madaba uranium exploration project in Selous Game Reserve: On Mar. 28, 2014, East Africa Resources Ltd announced that it has received a screening decision from the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) of Tanzania regarding the Madaba project which is located in the Selous Game Reserve. NEMC have recommended a Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) as it has decided that the project does not require a full Environmental Impact Assessment.
Madaba - another uranium exploration project in World Heritage Selous Game Reserve: On Sep. 26, 2013, East Africa Resources Ltd announced that it has obtained Prospecting Licenses for its Madaba property, where work carried out between 1979-1982 by Uranerzbergbau GmbH identified six anomalous uranium zones. The site is located within the World Heritage Selous Game Reserve. The company now has commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as requested by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT), to support its application for site access.
Mkuju River project (Mantra Res.), Namtumbo district, Ruvuma Region
> View deposit info
Rosatom postpones start of Mkuju River uranium mine project further to not earlier than 2022: The country's uranium production may start in 2022 if global prices for the commodity appreciate due to rising demand thanks to Chinese and Indian growing economies. Rosatom's Regional Vice-President for Central and Southern Africa Viktor Polikarpov said its local subsidiary, Uranium One and Mantra Resources have amicably agreed with authorities to put the project on hold pending better global prices for the commodity. "Demand is expected to firm upon the back of favourable supply and demand dynamics. New nuclear facilities are expected to become operational in the coming years and substantial output curbs will contribute to reduce the supply glut in the market and push prices higher. This said, the restoration of the market is not expected earlier than 2022," Polikarpov said in an interview. (The Guardian Oct. 5, 2017)
Rosatom postpones Mkuju River uranium mine project for at least three years due to depressed uranium market: Rosatom State Corporation, which planned to start mining uranium at the Mkuju River mine in southern Tanzania in 2018, decided to postpone the development of the project until the demand for uranium is restored, which is expected not earlier than 2020. (RBC July 5, 2017)
World Heritage Committee report demands thorough assessment of plan to switch mining method for Mkuju River project to in situ leaching:
"Recommendation 10: Should In Situ Leaching (ISL) be considered as a possible methodology for uranium ore extraction at Mkuju River Project (MRP) by Mantra, it should be ensured that the ESIA [Environmental and Social Impact Assessment] comprehensively addresses the following:
a. the potential impacts and mitigation measures of using the ISL approach, which includes a thorough assessment of the radioactive decay products of uranium; b. an early warning system in the case of an accident or seepage and an emergency response to such events; c. a long term plan for decommissioning and environmental monitoring following the mine closure; d. all direct and indirect impacts of the uranium mining project on both on-site and adjacent areas that may lie beyond the mining lease area, as well as matters of compliance with international atomic energy standards for uranium mining.
A copy of the ESIA should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN [International Union for Conservation of Nature] as soon as it is available, and before any decisions are taken.
Recommendation 11: Noting that there are several uncertainties and that multiple methodologies may be adopted for the Mkuju River Project, ensure that an ESIA is undertaken for each proposed extraction method, and that in addition, the operator undertakes a study to assess the cumulative impacts of all activities, methods of uranium extraction, intervention, and construction of facilities at the site.
Recommendation 12: Provide an update on the additional valuable wildlife forest area to implement the Committee Decision 36 COM 8B.43 to propose an extension of the property." (p.20)
Moreover, the document reports an important policy change of the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA) :
"However, TAWA has confirmed that they will not permit any further mining activities within SGR." (p.21)
This does, however, not affect the Mkuju River project, which now is excised from the Selous Game Reserve (SGR) and already has got a license. > Download: IUCN Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Selous Game Reserve World Heritage property, United Republic of Tanzania, 8-15 February 2017 (3.7MB PDF)
Tanzania government instructs mining company to begin uranium extraction at Mkuju River in Selous Game Reserve: The government of Tanzania has appealed to Mantra Tanzania Ltd to kick off the uranium extraction in Mkuju River in the Selous Game Reserve in the next couple of years for Tanzanians to 'harvest' from the project as well as the country to earn foreign currency from mineral exports. The tourist attraction site is also Africa's biggest wildlife conservancy area. Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals Medard Kalemani observed that the extraction of uranium should have taken off when the mining licence was granted on April 5, 2015. "Mantra was given two years for construction of the mining infrastructure. This is the fourth year. We are therefore saying you must start uranium mining operations in the next two years," said Dr Kalemani. "We are urging Mantra to open the mine in order to pay taxes and employ Tanzanians." (The Exchange Jan. 19, 2017)
Visiting Tanzanians arrested near Kayelekera uranium mine in Malawi: A group of eight Tanzanians who are worried about the impacts of the proposed Mkuju River uranium mine were arrested during a visit to neighbouring Malawi on December 20, 2016, where they wanted to learn about the impacts of the (currently mothballed) Kayelekera uranium mine. > View here
Elephants could vanish from World Heritage Selous Game Reserve within six years: Elephants could disappear from one of Africa's most important wildlife reserves within six years unless industrial scale poaching is stopped and mining is brought under control, the WWF has said. Selous national park, a world heritage site in southern Tanzania, has lost an average of almost 2,500 elephants a year since the 1970s. But it has now reached a crtitical stage with only about 15,000 left, according to the latest census. "The population is at an historic low. and urgent measures are required to protect the remaining animals and return the population to a stable and sustainable size. If this trend continues, elephants could vanish from Selous by early 2022," says the WWF in a new study. But the park, which is also home to lions, leopards, wild dog, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and over 400 bird species, is also threatened by large scale mining. Nearly 75% of Selous is covered by oil and gas concessions, and 54 mining concessions have been awarded. (The Guardian June 1, 2016) > Download Saving Selous - African Icon Under Threat , An analysis for WWF by Dalberg > Access petition: Save Tanzania's wilderness (WWF)
Russia hopes to start operation of Mkuju River uranium mine in 2018: Russia hopes to clinch a deal with Tanzania in the coming days to start extracting uranium on an industrial scale in the country's south in two years, the Russian industry and trade minister said Thursday (Apr. 28). (Sputnik Apr. 28, 2016)
Uranium One tests feasibility of in situ leaching for exploitation of Mkuju River uranium deposit: Rosatom subsidiary Uranium One is conducting studies to determine the feasibility of applying the method of in situ leaching for the development of the Nyota uranium deposit, the main asset of the Mkuju River Project in Tanzania. Currently, field trials studies are under way, which are expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year. (Rosatom Mar. 24, 2016)
Uranium One holding off on building Mkuju River uranium mine in Tanzania, until uranium price improves: Russian-controlled Uranium One will hold off on building a new mine in Tanzania until prices rise more than 70 percent from current levels, its chief executive said on Tuesday (Mar. 8). Toronto-based Uranium One, the world's fourth-largest uranium producer, looks to start construction of the Mkuju River mine in Tanzania once spot uranium prices appear likely to stay above $55 per pound, Chief Executive Officer Feroz Ashraf said in an interview. Prices have not reached that level since May, 2011. Uranium currently trades around $32.15 per pound. (Reuters March 8, 2016)
Uranium mining at Mkuju River Project in Selous Game Reserve to start in April 2016: Uranium mining at the Mkuju River Project in Southern Tanzania may start in April next year. The Deputy Minister responsible for mining in Ministry of Energy and Mining Charles Kitwanga said following the arrival of heavy machinery. Uranium mining is scheduled to commence in April next year. (East African Business Week Aug. 16, 2015)
Mkuju River project written down: In its Operating and Financial Review for the year ended December 31, 2014, Uranium One disclosed that "In Q4 2014, the carrying value of the investment was written down by $22.2 million. The impairment resulted from a deferral of the start date of construction activities, changes to the development plan with corresponding net increase in the capital cost, combined with an increase in the discount rate and a decrease in pricing assumptions." (Uranium One Inc. Mar. 25, 2015)
Selous Game Reserve declared World Heritage in Danger: On June 18, 2014, the World Heritage Committee meeting in Doha (Qatar) inscribed the Selous Game Reserve on the List of World Heritage in Danger because widespread poaching is decimating wildlife populations on the property. [...] rampant poaching has caused a dramatic decline in the wildlife populations, especially elephants and rhino, whose numbers have dropped by almost 90 percent since 1982, when the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List. (WHC June 18, 2014)
Uranium can be mined safely at Mkuju River project, regulator study: Investigations by the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) have proved Namtumbo area as safe for uranium mining. According to the commission's findings, while soils around the multi-billion Mkuju River Project in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region, have a certain level of metal extracts, it is safe for the activity to take place. A TAEC principal researcher, Mr Dennis Mwalongo, told the 'Daily News' that their investigation, which aimed at looking into the Regulatory System, Sustainable Uranium Production Life cycle, Health Safety and Environment, Capacity Building and Social Licensing, found out that the area earmarked for mining the chemical element is not inhabited by animals, while no agriculture is taking place there. (Daily News Dec. 26, 2013)
Group requests World Heritage Committee to reconsider approval of boundary change of Selous Game Reserve for proposed uranium mine: The NGO uranium-network.org requests the World Heritage Committee (WHC) to reconsider its 2012 approval of the boundary change of the Selous Game Reserve for the proposed Mkuju River uranium mine. The group is convinced that the decision was made in a faulty way and that the requests made by the WHC in its decision towards the Government of Tanzania are not met. > View Uranium Network release June 16, 2013
Start of development of Mkuju River uranium mine project still open due to "some pending issues": The mining schedule of uranium at the Mkuju River project in Namtumbo District, Lindi Region, is still not clear as the government has not yet agreed to some terms with the investor. The Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Stephen Maselle, said in Parliament that there were some pending issues yet to be agreed between the government and the investor. "We have already submitted our proposals. The offer is on the table, to take it or leave it," the deputy minister said in his reply to a supplementary question from Vita Kawawa (Namtumbo, CCM) who wanted to know when uranium extraction would begin at the Mkuju River project. The deputy minister further said the new investor owed the Tanzania government millions of dollars in capital gains tax from the sale of the project from Mantra Resources Pty Ltd of Australia to a Russian company, ARMZ Uranium Holding. (Daily News June 20, 2013)
Uranium extraction to start soon at Mkuju River project - European Union assists to ensure it is done properly: Despite a public outcry over potential harm that uranium might bring to the environment and people in the designated mining areas, the government has stated that extraction of the mineral resource will start soon. The minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof. Sospeter Muhongo declared yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the extraction of uranium is soon expected to start at Mkuju River area in Namtumbo district, Ruvuma region. The minister was speaking at a meeting attended by the representatives of the European Union (EU) in which cooperation with the government on mining in the area featured prominently. "We will dig uranium mining even if there is a distortion from the effects of the mines," he specified. The government through local and foreign experts has taken measures to ensure that there is no harm arising from mining activities, he stated. Meanwhile the Ambassador Head of delegation for European Union, Filberto Cerian Sebregondi has said that they recognize that energy is one of the most important things in the country and they want to support Tanzania in finding the resources to finance energy. He said that the EU was working with the government of Tanzania to ensure the extraction of uranium is properly conducted, noting that it can contribute to diminishing the energy supply problem in the country. Efforts will be needed to make the uranium-based energy economical for local users, he said. (The Guardian June 8, 2013)
Russia's ARMZ disputes $206 million tax claim for Mkuju River uranium mine project: Tanzania is demanding almost $206 million in taxes from Russian state uranium company ARMZ which has won a licence to build the east African country's first uranium mine, the energy minister said on Thursday (May 23). Tanzania's tax claim relates to the Mkuju River project in southern Tanzania, which is operated by Toronto-listed Uranium One but owned by ARMZ, the Canadian uranium producer's majority shareholder. "The Mkuju project ...was sold in December 2010 to ARMZ of Russia after acquiring shares from the parent company, Mantra Resources of Australia," Energy and Minerals Minister Sospeter Muhongo said in a newspaper advertisement of his ministry's 2013/14 budget proposals, which were tabled in parliament on Wednesday. "Following this deal ... the Tanzania Revenue Authority is claiming $205.80 million, of which $196 million was supposed to have been paid as capital gains tax and $9.8 million as stamp duty." Muhongo said the company has disputed the tax claim and the matter was now awaiting a court ruling. (Reuters May 23, 2013)
Mkuju River uranium mine project granted mining license: On April 8, 2013, Atomredmetzoloto announced that Mantra Tanzania (subsidiary to Mantra Resources Pty Limited) received the uranium mining license for the Mkuju River project issued by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals of the United Republic of Tanzania. Uranium One writes down investment in Mantra Resources for problems with Mkuju River project: The uranium miner said it wrote down the value of its investment in Mantra by $102.3-million as a result of delays in the expected initial production, mainly from permitting delays at Mantra's Mkuju River project, increased capital expenditure experienced in the industry, and lower uranium prices. (Mining Weekly Mar. 27, 2013)
Elephant poachers take advantage of road constructed for access to Mkuju River uranium project, located in area excised from World Heritage Selous Game Reserve: Rosatom has elephant poachers to contend with in order to progress with the Mkuju River uranium project in Tanzania, said Sergei Kiriyenko, the Russian state nuclear corporation's chief. "We have a project team that has instructions to put up resistance to poachers who are culling elephants in Tanzania. The poachers took advantage when we built a road to the deposit," Kiriyenko said during a lecture at the National Nuclear Research University in Moscow, Interfax reported. Canada's Uranium One, which is controlled by Rosatom's Atomredmetzoloto, or ARMZ, is the project operator in Tanzania. Kiriyenko said the UNESCO World Heritage Committee was monitoring the situation -- all of its demands must be met in order to carry out the Mkuju River project. That's why the company set up a special task force, which is buying helicopters and unmanned aircraft to locate the poachers' campfires. The Tanzanian authorities in July this year received UNESCO World Heritage Committee approval to exclude the Mkuju River uranium deposit from the UNESCO-protected Selous Game Reserve. (Moscow Times Dec. 5, 2012)
Mkuju River uranium mine project obtains environmental impact assessment certificate: On October 15, 2012, the Tanzanian government issued an environmental impact assessment certificate to Mantra Tanzania in respect of the Mkuju River Project. (Uranium One Inc. Nov. 5, 2012)
Construction of Mkuju River uranium mine to start in 2013: Uranium One's Tanzanian unit said it hoped to start building its Mkuju River uranium mine in 2013 and that, once completed, it would propel the east African country into the world's top ten uranium producers. Mantra Tanzania's managing director Asa Mwaipopo said on Wednesday (Oct. 24) the Mkuju River project in southern Tanzania had an updated resource of 119.4 million pounds of uranium [45,923 t U]. "It will take a two-year period for completing construction work before we start to produce uranium oxide. Tanzania will become number 3 in Africa in uranium production after Niger and Namibia," Mwaipopo told a mining and energy conference in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha. (Reuters Oct. 24, 2012)
International NGOs protest against World Heritage Committee's approval of boundary change of Selous Game Reserve for proposed uranium mine: On July 30, 2012, fifteen NGOs issued a press release protesting the World Heritage Committee's approval of the boundary change of the Selous Game Reserve for the proposed Mkuju River uranium mine. > Download press release and background info (Uranium Network)
World Heritage Committee approves excision of proposed uranium mine site from Selous Game Reserve: After months of intense lobbying, the Unesco World Heritage Committee has finally granted Tanzania's request to hive off part of Selous Game Reserve to allow mining of uranium in one of the largest remaining wildernesses in Africa. At a meeting in St Petersburg in the Russian Federation from June 24 to 6 July 2012, the committee unanimously approved Tanzania's request to modify the boundary of the game reserve by 0.8 per cent. The decision means that some 19,793 hectares (nearly 200 square kilometres) to the south of the Selous, where uranium deposits are found, will also be excluded. (The Citizen July 3, 2012) > Download WHC Decision (938k PDF) - see p.214-215 (p.215-216 of PDF), see also p.54-55 (p.55-56 of PDF)
World Heritage Committee to decide on excision of proposed uranium mine site from Selous Game Reserve: Proposed change of Selous Game Reserve boundaries to pave way for extraction of strategic uranium mineral shall be discussed by the world heritage committee, a branch of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) which commences its annual meeting in St Petersburg today. Tanzania originally applied in February 2011 to the world heritage committee for a change of Selous game reserve boundaries but response was deferred as the applicant was directed among other things to conduct a fresh assessment on environmental and social impact of the proposed change and submit the scientific report as a precondition for the committee to prepare its position. When reached over the phone a day before he flew to St. Petersburg, Deputy Minister Nyalandu told The Guardian on Sunday that Tanzania rejected the directive to re- submit the application, citing it as a change of boundaries. (Guardian June 24, 2012)
International Union for Conservation of Nature warns against serious degradation of biodiversity in Selous Game Reserve: New investments in and around the Selous Game Reserve and the Serengeti Plains are putting the two major biodiversity reservoirs under pressure, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warned yesterday. The IUCN head for Tanzania office, Mr Abdalla Said Shah, told The Citizen in an exclusive interview that the investments would in the long run lead to a serious degradation of biodiversity in the reserves. "What we are doing now is looking at the immediate economic gains of the investments, forgetting to realise what the situation would be, say 50 to 200 years ahead," he said. (The Citizen May 29, 2012) Opposition against the mining project was also voiced on June 20, 2012, by Germany-based NGO Uranium Network . And, a petition launched by US-based Beyond Nuclear and Uranium Network collected 2,698 signatures.
Atomredmetzoloto applies for mining licence at Mkuju River project: An Australian firm [ehm, well, 100% owned by Russia's Atomredmetzoloto since June 7, 2011], Mantra Tanzania, is seeking a licence to start mining uranium in the country. The environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) has just been completed and the reports have been submitted to the National Environmental Management Council . The firm has been conducted prospecting activities at the Mkuju River area in Ruvuma region. Mantra country manager Asa Mwaipopo said extensive exploration has identified a significant and world-class uranium deposit at the Mkuju River. There is mineable ore reserve base of 65.5 million pounds [25,200 t U] which can support an average annual production of 4.2 million pounds [1,600 t U] over a minimum 12 year mine life. (The Citizen Reporter) (The Citizen Oct. 26, 2011) House Committee: Stop uranium exploration in Selous Game Reserve: The Parliamentary Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Environment has advised the government to suspend uranium exploration in Selous Game Reserve because majority of Tanzanians do not know how they are going to benefit from the project. The project is being implemented by Mantra Resources Tanzania Limited. They raised the concern yesterday at a seminar on uranium mining in Dar es Salaam after visiting the mining site in the Selous last week. The MPs also said that if implemented the minerals are likely to have a great impact on the wild animals adding that as a result the government would lose a lot of tourism income. Citing the number of mining projects which Tanzanians have not directly benefited from, they said time for uranium extraction is not ripe yet. (The Guardian Oct. 24, 2011)
Selous Game Reserve may be declared a "World Heritage Site in Danger," if the Tanzanian government approves uranium mining: One of Tanzania's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Selous Game Reserve, may be declared a "World Heritage Site in Danger," should the Tanzanian government continue to recklessly pursue plans to open up a Uranium mine and build a dam at Stiegler's Gorge, it was learned yesterday. (eTN Aug 23, 2011)
Tanzanian minister calls World Heritage Committee an "insignificant entity from which we cannot take orders": The World Heritage Committee of Unesco has warned Tanzania against plans to mine uranium and undertake oil exploration in the Selous Game Reserve. It said the move would constitute a clear case for inscribing the game reserve on the list of World Heritage in Danger. But Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige told The Citizen yesterday that the World Heritage Committee was an "insignificant entity from which we cannot take orders". (The Citizen July 17, 2011)
Selous Game Reserve cannot remain a World Heritage Site if the Tanzanian government gives go-ahead for mining, renowned conservationist says: Dr Rolf D. Baldus , a wildlife conservationist who has worked in the Selous Game Reserve for 13 years, and is regarded as one of the major authorities on the reserve, said there was general agreement that no mining activities may be conducted in a World Heritage Site. "The Selous cannot remain a World Heritage Site if the Tanzanian government gives the go-ahead for mining to start within the property," said Dr Baldus in a statement made available The Citizen. Dr Baldus, who has authored or edited about 60 publications on the Selous Game Reserve, said Tanzania had not provided an environmental impact analysis (EIA) for the projects in the Selous. "It is a good Tanzanian tradition that public investments and projects with major ecological consequences are either not subjected to EIAs at all or the EIAs provided are sub-standard and of unacceptable quality. Mostly they seem to have been written just in order to justify the government decision. The recently planned Serengeti highway was such an example," he said. (The Citizen July 17, 2011)
World Heritage Committee refers decision to revise the boundaries of Selous Game Reserve for uranium mining: On July 7, 2011, the World Heritage Committee "decided to refer the proposed minor modification to the boundaries of the Selous Game Reserve submitted by the Government of Tanzania. The Committee decides to refer a nomination back to the State Party to request that additional information may be provided, and the nomination resubmitted to the following Committee session for examination. This additional time should allow Tanzania to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and to also allow for adequate time for IUCN to complete its evaluation of the proposed boundary modification, including by sending a mission to the property." > View WHC release July 7, 2011
Atomredmetzoloto/Uranium One to mine uranium in the UN World Heritage site Selous Game Reserve: Tanzania will go ahead with plans to mine uranium in the UN World Heritage site Selous Game Reserve , the natural resources minister has told the BBC. Ezekiel Maige said he told the recent UN World Heritage Centre meeting it would mean the park's size would need to be reduced by less than 1%. The UN body said it would approve the plans, as long as environmental assessments were carried out. According to the UN cultural organisation Unesco, the 5 million hectare-Selous Game Reserve in the south of Tanzania has large numbers of elephants, black rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles - and is relatively undisturbed by humans. (BBC Jul. 1, 2011)
Mkuju River uranium mine might become bigger than planned so far: Uranium One is reluctant to discuss details of its development plans for the Mkuju River project in Tanzania until an updated feasibility study is published early next year, but CEO Chris Sattler indicated on Tuesday (June 21) that production levels will likely be somewhere between five-million and seven-million pounds [1,900 and 2,700 t U] a year. The project could produce an average of 4.2-million pounds a year of yellowcake [1,600 t U/a], at costs of $22/lb, according to a May feasibility study completed by Mantra. Uranium One has said it expects to build a bigger project, although it has not provided any specific numbers. (Mining Weekly June 22, 2011)
Uranium One becomes operator at Mkuju River Project: On June 7, 2011, Uranium One Inc. announced that its 51% shareholder, JSC Atomredmetzoloto, has completed the acquisition of Mantra Resources Ltd. Uranium One also announced that it has now become operator of Mantra's Mkuju River Project in Tanzania, pursuant to an operating agreement entered into on June 6, 2011 between Uranium One, ARMZ and Mantra.
Positive Definitive Feasibility Study announced for Phase 1 development of Nyota prospect: On May 6, 2011, Mantra Resources Ltd announced the completion of the Phase 1 Definitive Feasibility Study for the company's Nyota Prospect, part of the wholly owned Mkuju River Project in Tanzania, "which confirms the robust technical and economic viability of the Project and demonstrates that Nyota will be a low cost, near term uranium producer". The study assumes an annual production of 4.2 million pounds of U3O8 [1,615 t U] during steady state operation, based on average annual throughput of 5.2 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 437 ppm U3O8 [0.037% U], with an initial mine life of 12 years (including ramp up and ramp down) for Phase 1, with potential to increase further.
> Calculate Nyota Prospect mine feasibility Russia acquires owner of Mkuju River uranium project: Rosatom Corp., Russia's nuclear holding company, agreed to buy Mantra Resources Ltd. for A$1.16 billion ($1.15 billion), giving it the Australian-based company's Tanzanian assets. Rosatom, through its ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. subsidiary, will buy Perth-based Mantra for A$8 a share, a 5.5 percent premium to its last trading price before the shares were halted prior to the takeover announcement today. The all-cash offer is subject to Australian regulatory approval, the companies said in a statement. Buying Mantra will give Rosatom the Mkuju River project in Tanzania and add to its controlling stake in Canada's Uranium One Inc. that it purchased in June. (Bloomberg Dec. 15, 2010)
It is expected that the Mkuju River uranium project in Namtumbo district, Ruvuma Region, will start production this year. Mantra Tanzania Limited is developing the project which is in advanced stage. Speaking in Namtumbo over the weekend, the Mantra Tanzania managing director, Mr Tony Devlin said that the development of the project, whose feasibility study was completed in March this year, is progressing well. He said that on completion, the mine has the potential of producing over 1,650 tonnes of uranium oxide [1,400 t U] a year. Under this rate, he said, Tanzania will be in the list of eight largest producers of uranium oxide in the world. (The Citizen Sep. 6, 2010)
On Mar. 1, 2010, Mantra Resources Limited announced that the Pre-Feasibility Study for the Company's Nyota Prospect, part of the wholly owned Mkuju River Project in Tanzania, has confirmed the technical and economic viability of the Project and its capacity to operate with strong cash margins. A Definitive Feasibility Study is to commence immediately, targeting completion by the end of 2010.
Uranium mining company Mantra Resources Ltd (Mantra) of South Africa has been given the go ahead by the Tanzania government to mine uranium after it met all environmental conditions as mandated by the National Environment Management Council . Mantra expects to complete a pre-feasibility study anytime now, ahead of the awarding and commencement of a full feasibility study. The drilling programmes are scheduled to be concluded by December and will be followed by a revised resource estimate expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010. (The East African Sep. 14, 2009)
"Mantra Tanzania Limited is expected to start mining uranium by 2012," Minister William Ngeleja said in a speech to parliament. (Reuters July 26, 2009)
On June 17, 2009, Mantra Resources Limited announced that the Scoping Study for its wholly owned Nyota Prospect, part of the Mkuju River Project in Tanzania, has confirmed the technical and economic viability of the Project and its capacity to operate with strong cash margins. A Pre-Feasibility Study is now underway.
Mkuju uranium project (UAL)
> View deposit info
On April 15, 2016, Magnis Resources Limited demerged its uranium assets to Uranium Africa Limited .
With effect from Sep. 22, 2014, Uranex Limited changed its name to Magnis Resources Limited.
On Feb. 1, 2012, Uranex Ltd announced that discussions are advancing with Chinese based firms on the possible joint development of the Mkuju uranium exploration project in Southern Tanzania, 100% owned by the company.
On May 18, 2011, Uranex NL announced substantial high grade uranium intersections from initial drilling of the Likuyu North Prospect, part of its 100% owned Mkuju Uranium Project, in Southern Tanzania.
Manyoni project
(formerly Bahi project)
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Uranium mining at Manyoni project to start early next year [???]: Extraction of uranium in Bahi District in Dodoma Region will start soon after Geological Survey of Tanzania finalises surveying the area in December. This was revealed in the Parliament on Friday (Apr. 28) morning by deputy minister for Energy and Minerals Dr Medard Kalemani. (The Citizen Apr. 28, 2017)
Demerger: On April 15, 2016, Magnis Resources Limited demerged its uranium assets to Uranium Africa Limited .
Company name change: With effect from Sep. 22, 2014, Uranex Limited changed its name to Magnis Resources Limited.
Group cautions Tanzanian government over environmental impacts of proposed uranium mining: The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) is planning to take the government to court should it go ahead with uranium mining projects in Bahi and Manyoni districts in Dodoma and regions respectively. The LHRC cautioned yesterday that it was against the projects because they would lead to serious health and environmental impacts on the people living in the area. Addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam on behalf of the LHRC executive director, Mr Harold Sungusia, who is LHRC's director of Advocacy and Reforms, said the Centre had established that there would be negative implications after it made a follow up on uranium exploration in the areas said to have reserves of the mineral. "We don't have to think of relocating people from these areas because we have past experience on how the issue of compensating becomes problematic," said Mr Sungusia, who is the LHRC's director of advocacy and reforms. However, the government has no plan to provide alternative safe residences or compensate the residents of the area when the mining activities begin. For other areas, apart from the two districts, the government would take prior measures before implementing the mining activities. LHRC said experts must be fully consulted to determine environmental effects in order to identify short and long-term effects associated with uranium mining, noting that the issue of uranium mining should go hand in hand with education regarding effects and benefits of the activities. LHRC also asked the government to learn from other nations, such as Niger, that have already experienced negative effects of uranium mining. Reached for comment, the deputy minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Adam Malima, said the mining activities would not have any impact on the people since the minerals would only be produced in their raw form. (The Citizen Aug. 15, 2011)
Legislator recommends to study impacts of proposed uranium mining in Bahi: The government has been advised to carry out a through study and get experience from other countries on the health, social and environmental hazards likely to occur before embarking on uranium extraction in Bahi. Bahi legislator Omari Badwel gave the advice yesterday during an exclusive interview with a Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) fact finding mission investigating facts on the mineral in Bahi District, Dodoma Region. (The Guardian July 23, 2011)
Costs of proposed uranium mining in the Bahi Swamp area highly likely to exceed benefits, NGO report finds: On July 16, 2011, the group Civil Education is the Solution for Poverty and Environmental Management (CESOPE) released a report about the economical and environmental impacts of the proposed uranium mining in the Bahi Swamp area. The authors "conclude that there is a serious risk and high probability that the costs to the local and Tanzanian economy will by far exceed the benefits". > Download Economical and ecological research of Bahi Swamp, by Damas K. Mbogoro, Augustino Mwakipesile, and Howard D. Smith (Ed.), Civil Education is the Solution for Poverty and Environmental Management (CESOPE), December 2010, 35 p. (785k PDF, posted with permission)
On Oct. 27, 2009, Uranex NL announced the commencement of the final stage of the Pre-Feasibility Study at its wholly owned Manyoni Uranium Project in central Tanzania following successful additional leach test work and initial results from the 2009 infill drilling programme.
Uranium mining company Uranex has been given the go ahead by the Tanzania government to mine uranium after it met all environmental conditions as mandated by the National Environment Management Council . (The East African Sep. 14, 2009)
"Uranex Tanzania Limited ... expects to start producing the mineral [uranium] in 2011," Minister William Ngeleja said in a speech to parliament. (Reuters July 26, 2009)
On June 10, 2009, Uranex NL, once again, announced the commencement of the Pre-Feasibility Study for its Manyoni Project in Central Tanzania. The study now is scheduled for completion by December 2009.
Uranex NL may start operating a mine in Tanzania's central Bahi region within two years, Chief Executive Officer John Wilfred Cottle said. Studies conducted at Manyoni, about 80 kilometers west of the capital, Dodoma, in the Bahi region show an inferred resource estimate of 6,900 metric tons of uranium oxide, Cottle said in an interview today in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. "These are very shallow deposits so we expect it to be low-cost and relatively simple to process," Cottle said. "We would like to start producing in that region in 2010." (Bloomberg Oct. 7, 2008)
On Aug. 20, 2008, Uranex NL announced the commencement of a pre-feasibility study on the Bahi uranium project in central Tanzania. The study is to be completed by December 2008.
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