Uranium will add USD 603 million to revenues - ministry

BY STELLA JIMMY

2nd October 2013

Ally Samaje, Acting Commissioner for Minerals in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral

The ministry of Energy and Minerals has said that when the extraction of uranium at Mkuju River project starts it will contribute about USD 603 million to the country’s revenues and employ more than 690 Tanzanians.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the ministry’s Acting Commissioner for minerals, Ally Samaje said the extraction which is expected to begin soon has a life span of 12 years hence exploration should continue so as to find other uranium mines with longer life span.

“The expected uranium extraction will be of benefit not only to the government but also to the society as it will provide jobs… however, researchers should not stop there as there might be other uranium deposits with longer life span,” he said.
Samaje however allayed the public’s fear towards uranium extraction following incorrect information which has been spread amongst the people claiming that the extraction would pose health problems to the people including liver cancer, DNA change and decomposed new born babies.

He said that the enacted Radioactive Minerals Regulations of 2010 gives clear guidelines to extraction companies on the directives to follow during the whole process from searching to extracting uranium so that people’s health and environment won’t be affected.

On top of that, the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) are required to oversee and control the radiation that can affect human health and the society surrounding the uranium-rich area will participate fully in the project.

He noted that the country will only be the place of extraction which will be up to yellow cake stage; a stage less harmful to human. From there the uranium will be transported to countries like Japan, France and Russia which have the technology of fertilizing it to become a productive asset.

In such a stage, he said, is where the highly enriched uranium wastes are produced and can cause such mentioned health problems if not controlled.
In recent years, researchers found uranium mines in various areas in the country including Mkuju River, Madaba, Bahi, Gallapo, Uluguru hills and Itigi. However, the Mkuju River is the only place where the uranium can be extracted for trade purposes.

According to research, 175 tonnes of uranium have already been measured, indicated and inferred. NEMC has also conducted environmental assessment and issued Environment Impact Assessment Certificatewhich allowed the ministry to provide a licence to Mantra Tanzania Limited- the company that owns the project. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN