Tanzania says Russia visit has boosted Rosatom-backed Mkuju River uranium project
Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde says infrastructure tenders have started as the project moves toward production and long-term expansion.
Quick Look
- Tanzania says Samia Suluhu Hassan's visit to Russia has accelerated the Rosatom-backed Mkuju River uranium project.
- Officials say infrastructure tenders are under way and the site could eventually produce about 4,000 tonnes a year.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The article says the Mkuju River uranium project was suspended about a decade ago after uranium prices collapsed, then gained momentum again as market conditions improved and Tanzania-Russia ties deepened. It also says the project has already completed some preparatory stages and has launched infrastructure construction tenders.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's official visit to Russia has given fresh momentum to the Mkuju River uranium project, according to Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde.
The project is managed by Mantra Tanzania, a subsidiary of Rosatom. The publication said it is valued at about $1.2 billion.
Rosatom suspended the project about a decade ago after a collapse in global uranium prices. According to the report, improving market conditions and stronger ties between Tanzania and Russia have revived it.
Mavunde described the project as a flagship investment for both the mining sector and the broader economy. He said the visit had given the project significant momentum and that major progress was expected in a relatively short time because some preparatory stages had already been completed.
He added that the parties had made substantial progress on the plan in recent weeks and said infrastructure construction tenders for the site had been launched.
At full capacity, Mavunde expects the facility to produce about 4,000 tonnes of uranium annually. He said that would make Tanzania the second-largest uranium producer in Africa after Namibia and place it among the world's leading producers.
The Mkuju site is estimated to hold about 139 million tonnes of uranium ore, enough to sustain mining operations for more than 20 years.
In July 2025, Rosatom's press service said Mantra Tanzania had launched a pilot uranium processing facility at the Mkuju River project. The company said construction of the main complex would begin in 2026, with commissioning scheduled for 2029.
On June 3, Hassan held four hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. She then attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which ran from June 3-6. Speaking at the plenary session, she said Tanzania was keen to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
More concrete infrastructure and construction announcements are likely in the coming weeks or months.
Likely · Within weeks
The project will continue to be presented by Tanzanian officials as a strategic national investment.
Likely · Within months
Additional reporting will likely focus on the project's timeline toward commissioning and production capacity.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- When will full-scale construction begin?
- How much of the $1.2 billion project has already been financed?
- What specific infrastructure tenders have been launched?
- Will the project meet its production target of 4,000 tonnes a year?
