The government has stepped up efforts to accelerate development of the long-delayed Mkuju River uranium project in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region, with the operator targeting construction activities from October this year.
Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde met the board of directors of Mantra Tanzania Limited in Dodoma on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, to review progress on the project and discuss plans to move it towards production.
Mantra board chairman Vladislav Shulga said the company was ready to resume major development activities at the project as soon as possible, following the commissioning of a small uranium processing plant in 2025.
“We are ready to continue with the construction of this major project as soon as possible, with activities expected to begin in October,” Mr Shulga said.
The Mkuju River project is one of Tanzania’s major uranium development projects and has the potential to add uranium to the country’s mineral production portfolio, which is currently dominated by gold and other minerals.
Mr Mavunde directed Mantra to accelerate implementation of the project, emphasising the need to maintain momentum towards the targeted production date.
He also assured the company that the government would continue providing the necessary support at different stages of the project’s development.
The minister said the government expected the project to reach production by 2029.
The push to develop the Mkuju River project comes as Tanzania seeks to expand investment and production across the mining sector while increasing the contribution of minerals to the national economy.
The project’s progress will also be closely watched for its potential impact on employment, local businesses and government revenues in Ruvuma Region.
The meeting was attended by Mantra board members, including Mr Shulga and Aleksandr Ryabchenko, as well as the company’s Sustainability Manager Majani Moremi Wambura.