Tanzania urges Mantra to accelerate Uranium production at Mkuju river project
The Tanzanian government has urged Mantra Tanzania Limited to accelerate preparations for uranium production at the Mkuju River Uranium Project in southern Tanzania, as authorities seek to unlock economic benefits tied to one of the country’s largest strategic mining investments.
Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr. Steven Kiruswa, made the call on May 13, 2026 during a meeting in Dodoma with executives from Mantra Tanzania, the company developing the Mkuju River Uranium Project in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region.
Dr. Kiruswa said the government expects the project to begin production within the planned timeframe so Tanzanians can benefit from the anticipated employment, infrastructure, and economic opportunities associated with the investment.
He recalled that in July 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially inaugurated Mantra Tanzania’s pilot uranium processing plant, a facility established to test processing technologies and collect operational data ahead of the construction of a full-scale production plant.
“The government has no intention of revoking the company’s special mining licence,” Dr. Kiruswa said, while urging the company to speed up efforts to secure financing for the project.
The Mkuju River Uranium Project is considered one of Tanzania’s most significant strategic mining ventures and is expected to position the country among Africa’s notable uranium producers once operational.
Speaking during the meeting, Mantra Tanzania Chief Executive Officer Ilya Shchukin said the company is in the final stages of securing financing for construction of the mine and large-scale uranium processing facility.
According to Shchukin, the company is currently holding discussions with financial institutions from Russia as well as Tanzanian banks including CRDB Bank Plc and NMB Bank Plc to mobilise capital for the project.
He noted that one of the major challenges affecting financing negotiations is the current mining licence timeline, which is due to expire in April 2028, making some lenders hesitant to provide long-term project financing.
Mantra Tanzania officials said the project is expected to create more than 4,000 direct jobs for residents of Namtumbo and nearby communities, while over 21,000 households are projected to benefit through the project’s wider economic value chain.
The company also highlighted ongoing community investment programmes focusing on education, healthcare, environmental conservation, infrastructure development, and economic empowerment initiatives targeting youth and women living around the project area.
Mantra Tanzania’s Sustainable Community Relations Manager, Majani Wambura, called on Tanzania’s Mining Commission to renew the company’s licence in order to improve access to financing from international and domestic lenders.
Officials say the Mkuju River project is expected to produce approximately 3,000 tonnes of uranium annually once full-scale operations begin.
Mantra Tanzania Limited is a subsidiary of Uranium One Group, part of Russia’s state nuclear energy sector, and oversees one of the largest uranium mining and processing projects currently under development in Tanzania.
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