MKUJU RIVER URANIUM PROJECT

BY FRIDAY SIMBAYA,

Songea

The Chief Mine Geologist for Mantra Tanzania Limited, Emmanuel Nyamusika said that his company has not yet started mining uranium at Namtumbo Mkuju River Project but it is still going on with exploration and geological works.

He said that his company has not started mining uranium at Namtumbo Mkuju River Project, what they are is exploration and geological work, adding that the project implementation will start next year 2013, if things for well and after obtaining the special mining licence and the mining development agreement from the government.

The chief mine geologist told journalists of Ruvuma Press Club (RPC) when they paid a courtesy call to company on Saturday.

However, the journalists visit to the company was aimed at familiarization with Mkuju River Project; learn about uranium mining and radioactive materials and the relations between the existing community and company.

The Ruvuma Press Club tour of duty to Mkuju River Project undertaken by the Mantra Tanzania Limited about 50 km from Likuyu Sekamaganga Village, which is doing exploration of uranium at Namtumbo, was accompanied by the Acting Namtumbo District Administrative Secretary (DAS), Ndaki Stephano, Wildlife Officer Selous Game Reserve, Sekamaganga Zone, Emmanuel Lalashe and other security organs of the district.

They were all educated on the facts of uranium and radioactive and all the malformation they had when starting the journey were cleared and all that is needed was to go back and try to educate the communities about the facts of uranium and radioactive materials.

The chief geologist and his team, accompanied by journalists went to the uranium trenches and sampling yard and presented project progress on exploration work undertaken and explained the ongoing geological work since the minor boundary modification approved by UNESCO.

On his part, Ruvuma Press Club Chairperson Andrew Kuchonjoma thanked the Mantra Tanzania Limited and Namtumbo District leadership on behalf of the journalists for organizing the tour, and said the visit was successful.

“We have been educated on the facts about uranium and radioactive materials and misconceptions surrounding the Mkuju River Project. All we need is to go back and try to educate the communities in the areas about the uranium facts,” said Kuchonjoma.

Uranium is a chemical element of atomic number 92, grey dense radioactive metal used a fuel in nuclear reactors, but Mantra Mkuju River Project will not use uranium for power generation after government has granted special mining licence because it is not in their plan.

Mantra Tanzania Limited started its exploration and geological work at Mkuju River Project in Namtumbo, Ruvuma Region since 2007.

According to chief mine geologist of Mantra Tanzania Limited, they will use trucks and excavators during the mining of uranium because the mineral deposits of uranium are just on the surface. The mining of uranium will be properly handled to make sure that it does not affect human health and environment.

The Mkuju River Uranium project is about 53 kilometers from the nearby village of Likuyu Seka maganga situated within Selous Game Reserve in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region.

Na Friday Simbaya, Songea

Mwanajiolojia Mkuu wa Mantra Tanzania Limited, Emmanuel Nyamusika
amesema kuwa kampuni yake bado haijaanza uchimbaji wa madini ya urani
katika Wilaya ya Namtumbo, yaani Mkuju River Project lakini bado
inaendelea na utafiti na kazi ya kijiolojia.

Alisema kuwa kampuni yake haijaanza kuchimba madini ya urani katika
mradi wa Namtumbo (Mkuju River Project) isipokuwa wanaendelea na
mambo ya utafutaji pamoja na kazi ya kijiolojia, na kuongeza kwamba
utekelezaji wa mradi huo utaanza mwaka ujao 2013, kama mambo
yatakwenda vizuri baada ya kupata leseni maalum ya uchimbaji madini
kutoka serikalini.

Mwanajiolojia mkuu wa mradi wa Urani wakuu aliwaambia waandishi wa
habari wa Ruvuma Press Club (RPC) wakati wa ziara kwa kampuni hiyo
Jumamosi.

Hata hivyo, ziara ya waandishi wa habari kwa kampuni ilikuwa na
malengo matatu: kuhufahamu Mradi wa Mto Mkuju, kujifunza kuhusu
madini ya urani na vifaa vya mionzi na taarifa ya mahusiano kati ya
jamii zilizokaribu na mradi.

Ziara ya waandishi wa habri kutoka mkoa wa Ruvuma (Ruvuma Press Club)
kwa mradi wa Mradi Mkuju River uliofanywa na Mantra Tanzania Limited
ambapo hupo kilomita 50 kutoka Kijiji cha Likuyu Sekamaganga , ambayo
inafanya utafutaji wa madini ya urani katika Wilaya ya Namtumbo,
ilifuatana na Kaimu Katibu Tawala wa Wilaya ya Namtumbo (DAS),
Stephano Ndaki, Afisa Wanyamapori Pori la Akiba la Selous kanda ya
Sekamaganga , Emmanuel Lalashe na vongozi wengine wa usalama ya
wilaya.

Wao wote kwa pamoja wapatiwa elimu juu ya ukweli wa urani na mionzi na
ambapo wakati wa kuanza safari walikuwa na wasiwasi husuku mradi wa
urani na madhara yake.
.
Mwanajiolojia mkuu pamoja na timu yake, akifuatana na waandishi wa
habari walikwenda kwenye mitaro ya urani na yadi sampuli na kutoka
maendeleo ya mradi juu ya utafutaji kazi uliyofanyika na alielezea
wanaendelea kazi kijiolojia na kurekisbishaji wa madogo mpaka wa Pori
la Akiba Selous kupitishwa kupitia kamati ya urithi wa dunia ya
UNESCO.

Alisema kuwa kwa ssa wanaendelea kushirikiana serikali katika
kukamilisha taratibu za kupata vyeti vya mazingira (EIA), leseni
maalum ya kuchimba madini na mkataba wa madini ya maendeleo ambavyo ni
muhimu kwa ajili ya maendeleoya mradi.

“Ni matumaini yetu kwamba kama mambo yataendelea vizuri na kupatikana
kwa vibali vilivyotajwa hapo juu, basi tutakuwa na uwezo wa kuanza
kuandaa vifaa tayari kwa ajili ya kuanza ujenzi mwakani,” alisema
Emmanuel Nyamusika.

Kwa upande wake, Mwenyekiti wa Ruvuma Press Clubu ,Andrew Kuchonjoma
alimshukuru Mantra Tanzania Limited pamoja uongozi wa Wilaya ya
Namtumbo kwa niaba ya waandishi wa habari kwa kuandaa ziara, na
alisema ziara ilikuwa na mafanikio.

"Tumepata elimu juu ya ukweli kuhusu vifaa vya madini ya urani na
mionzi na dhana potofu kuhusiana mradi Mkuju River Project. Wote
tunahitaji ni kwenda nyumbani na kujaribu kuelimisha jamii katika
maeneo yetu kuhusu ukweli wa urani, "alisema Kuchonjoma.

Mantra Tanzania Limited iliaanza utafutaji wake na kazi za kijiolojia
katika Mkuju River Project katika Wilaya ya Namtumbo, mkoani Ruvuma
tangu 2007.
Mwisho