Uranium: Why residents want delayed project expedited

Namtumbo. Residents of Namtumbo District in Ruvuma Region on Thursday urged the government to expedite the implementation of a long-delayed uranium extraction project, which they believe will significantly boost the area’s economic development.

Namtumbo MP Vita Kawawa, voiced local residents’ concerns when President Samia Suluhu Hassan visited the area as part of her working visit to Ruvuma Region.

Mr Kawawa also spoke about the issue of frequent elephant invasions that have been destroying crops, particularly peas and affecting over 400 households.

The uranium project, centred around the Mkuju River in Ruvuma Region, has seen years of anticipation. Though the region boasts one of Tanzania’s largest uranium reserves, with estimated deposits of 182.1 million tonnes of ore and a uranium grade of 0.025 percent, commercial mining has yet to commence.

Minerals deputy minister Steven Kiruswa told The Citizen recently that the mine is located within the Mwalimu Nyerere National Park. As such, it was imperative to conduct a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) to determine if exploration activities will take place and if they do what conditions should be adhered to.

“I understand that the process of finding a company that will conduct the SEA is in its final stages with a tender already announced and the vetting process to pick the company was currently on,” he said.

Tanzania Chamber of Mines executive secretary Benjamin Mchwampaka also told The Citizen recently that the study is aimed to ensure the national park will not be affected.

“The assessment would be aimed at determining whether the proposed activity can be conducted in a way that aligns with conservation goals and does not significantly harm the park’s environment. The process helps to identify potential negative impacts and propose mitigation measures to ensure that the park’s ecological integrity and biodiversity are preserved,” he said recently.

According to Mr Mchwampaka, the goal is often to balance developmental needs with conservation priorities, ensuring that any activity or project contributes positively to both local communities and the environment while minimising harm.

Mr Kawawa told President Hassan on Thursday that the project in question was a long-standing one that has left residents questioning its timeline.

“We request that once the preliminary findings of the study are available, permission for extraction should be granted promptly,” he said.

The lawmaker emphasised that the district lacks industries and that the economic benefits of the exploration phase, including job creation for local youths and increased economic activity, were significant.

Beyond the uranium project, Mr Kawawa also pressed for more comprehensive measures to combat elephant invasions, which have devastated local farmers’ crops.

While some compensation has been provided to affected households, he argued that further action is needed to prevent the destruction of fields, which exacerbates poverty in the district.

In her response, President Hassan reassured the residents that the government was working on resolving the issues.

She acknowledged the importance of the uranium project and assured that the SEA was being conducted thoroughly to ensure safety and environmental standards are met.

The Head of State also addressed the elephant invasion problem and stressed the importance of adhering to land dispute resolution protocols established by Agriculture minister Hussein Bashe.

The 6,580 hectares of land formerly owned by the National Agricultural Farms Corporation (NAFCO) have been divided between the Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) and local farmers, with 3,850 hectares designated for ASA seed multiplication and 3,000 hectares reserved for farming by locals.

President Hassan further emphasised the importance of ASA’s role in producing quality seeds domestically, reducing reliance on imported varieties.

“We are distributing fertiliser at subsidised prices, and I have instructed the Minister of Agriculture to begin providing seeds at subsidised rates,” she said and  called on residents to support ASA’s efforts and urged them to refrain from setting bushfires, which are damaging to protected areas.