Mantra targets uranium extractions pilot project

The pilot phase which will start in July this year, expects to gobble up to US$1billion on its completion of main project.

It is projected that 5000Kg of the uranium yellow cakes will be produced annually for four consecutive years of the pilot phase.

After the four- years of the PMEO, the company which is operating as a subsidiary of Uranium One Mining Company and the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM) will venture into a 12 years of extraction and production of uranium yellow cakes.

Frederick Kibodya, the company's senior management advisor-cum- former managing director (MD), told The Guardian said the company is well prepared to run the initiative professionally and fruitfully.

The company has been in the country’s uranium corridor since 2008 and in 2012 it conducted a definite feasibility study to determine resources of uranium deposits at Mkuju project, and the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

"In 2013 we successfully managed to obtain the Special Mining License from the parent ministry  (Ministry of Minerals) but we were thereafter compelled to downsize activities due to a major fall in the price of uranium in the world market," Kibodya unveiled.

He further explained that during 2010 and 2012 the mineral attracted a profitable price at the global market of around US$120 per 1Kg of uranium oxide, before shrank to US$40 per Kg by 2016.

"By the time, especially in 2016, production cost of 1Kg of uranium oxide for the project was around US$80, which translated a loss of US$40," he said.

As the market and price of uranium yellow cakes have recently strengthened, Kibodya expressed optimism that the project will fetch the much- needed results, informed that the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) was doing a great role in the supervision of the global uranium market.

"Globally, due to the sensitivity of uranium, there are few companies that have given green light to participate in supply and sell the mineral,  including  Uranium One and ROSATOM," he unveiled.

He said the mineral, uranium oxide was being used as a source of raw material for fuel in the nuclear power plants (NPP), saying there are over 400 NPP in different countries, including Russia, France, Japan, US, China, India and in South Africa, according to him.

He noted that Power generation from NPP source were carbon-free, an important and sustainable energy source in a time when the world was facing energy crisis.

And as part of observing local content requirements, he said Mantra Tanzania was at the forefront of knowledge transfer to locals in its daily executions.

"For instance, at the peak time of our exploration works in 2011, we had a total of 235 employees from Mantra and its contractors,  and out of the figure, over 200 were locals, " he insisted.

Currently, he said the reputable company has resumed its business with at least 165 workers from Mantra and its contractors who are involved in the construction of the pilot project, and the construction works of the facility for the main project will absorb about 1,700 workers.

After finalising the construction works, he noted, they were mulling to remain with 670 permanent workers for manning the company's future extractions, including locals and foreigners, with a higher percentage being nationals.

"The high profile foreigners experts, expected to be from South Africa, Russia and Kazakhstan will be imparting their uranium extraction experience to locals," he explained.

He hailed and appreciated the close cooperation and support being provided by the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC)  and the Mining Commission in ensuring the company's work to meet the intended outcomes.