“This is a landmark achievement for our country… For the first time, Tanzania is stepping onto the global uranium map with the capacity to supply a strategic mineral essential for safe and sustainable energy generation worldwide.”
— President Samia Suluhu Hassan

Tanzania’s entry into the global nuclear landscape has taken a significant leap forward. After nearly a decade of groundwork, the country officially launched its pilot uranium processing facility in July 2025—a milestone personally officiated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. This marks the beginning of a broader national ambition to generate clean, reliable, and strategically valuable nuclear energy.

The journey began in October 2016 when Tanzania signed an agreement with Russia’s State Nuclear Corporation, ROSATOM, to develop a nuclear research reactor as the foundation for future energy generation. Today, this collaboration has matured into a full-fledged uranium development program centered around the Mkuju River Uranium Project, located at the Nyota deposit within the Selous Game Reserve. Operated by ROSATOM’s subsidiary, Mantra Tanzania Ltd., the project is structured to produce up to 3,000 tonnes of uranium annually, positioning Tanzania as the second-largest uranium producer in Africa after Namibia.

Tanzania’s Uranium Assets and Economic Prospects

According to the World Nuclear Association, Tanzania holds approximately 57,700 tonnes of uranium, representing 1% of global reserves. This makes Tanzania the 10th-largest uranium reserve holder worldwide and the 5th in Africa. The investment tied to the Mkuju River project stands at USD 1.2 billion, with the Tanzanian government holding a 20% stake, generating an estimated USD 4 million in annual dividends once full operations commence.

Construction of the main processing plant is slated for early 2026, with commissioning planned for 2029. The project is expected to create 4,000 direct jobs and over 100,000 indirect opportunities across ancillary sectors such as logistics, infrastructure, and manufacturing.

The government also plans to develop small nuclear energy reactors ranging from 600–1000 MW, which will feed directly into the national grid—currently fluctuating between 2,842 MW and 3,091 MW. These additions are key to President Samia’s pledge during the 2025 campaign to raise Tanzania’s power generation capacity to 8,000 MW by 2030 through a blend of renewable and conventional sources.

Nuclear Power and Tanzania’s Vision 2050

Energy stands at the foundation of Tanzania’s Vision 2050, described as the engine for economic transformation, inclusive social development, and industrial growth. The vision prioritizes universal access to affordable, clean, and reliable electricity, while strengthening regional integration through the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).

President Samia has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of embracing nuclear energy:
“For many years, the country has been told that generating electricity using uranium is dangerous, yet developing countries are already using this source to power their grids. There is a need for this project to commence so that Tanzanians can benefit.”

Africa’s Nuclear Awakening

The broader African continent is also experiencing a shift in energy strategy. With 600 million Africans lacking reliable electricity access, nuclear energy is increasingly viewed as a long-term solution for energy security.

Globally, nuclear accounts for 9% of all electricity, yet in Africa, only South Africa operates a commercial nuclear plant—the two reactors at Koeberg, producing 8.5 TWh, roughly equivalent to Tanzania’s current total electricity production.

Momentum is growing. In 2022, Russia and Egypt commenced construction of the $28 billion El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, set to supply 10% of Egypt’s electricity upon completion. Countries like Ghana, Algeria, and Morocco already run research reactors, while Uganda, Kenya, Tunisia, Botswana, Mali, and Sudan are shaping partnerships to enter nuclear development.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Africa’s energy demand is projected to rise by 60% by 2050, with nuclear electricity expected to triple by 2030 and grow tenfold by 2050.

A New African Leadership Moment

From uranium mining to reactor development, Africa is not just joining the nuclear wave—it is positioning itself to shape it. Tanzania’s Mkuju River project represents more than a national energy milestone; it is part of a continental shift toward technological advancement, clean energy, and strategic resource utilization.

As the global conversation turns to sustainable power and energy independence, Tanzania’s entry into the nuclear landscape may prove to be one of its most consequential steps toward long-term economic transformation.