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Tanzania charts path towards nuclear-powered electricity
What you need to know:
- Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Energy, Mr Felchesmi Mramba, told The Citizen on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town that the country had begun capacity-building initiatives and stakeholder consultations as it moves to align with global nuclear safety and regulatory standards
Cape Town. Tanzania is accelerating efforts to exploit its uranium reserves for electricity generation, with government officials confirming that initial steps toward a nuclear energy programme are already underway.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Energy, Mr Felchesmi Mramba, told The Citizen on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town that the country had begun capacity-building initiatives and stakeholder consultations as it moves to align with global nuclear safety and regulatory standards.
“Our journey started after directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan for Tanzania to explore nuclear energy. We have already started training our experts and engaging with international institutions like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” said Mr Mramba in an interview.
He revealed that a major stakeholders’ meeting was held in June in Dar es Salaam, bringing together local and international nuclear experts to outline the roadmap for nuclear energy development in Tanzania.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan recently called for accelerated efforts to develop Tanzania’s uranium resources, stressing that the country must start benefitting from its natural wealth instead of letting others exploit it.
Speaking during the swearing-in of new government officials—including the new Tanesco managing director, Mr Lazaro Twange—she said the government was increasingly shifting focus towards renewable energy sources.
“As we move forward, we are looking more closely at renewable sources of energy,” she said.
“Traditionally, we have focused on solar, wind and other alternatives. However, God has also blessed our country with uranium.”
She noted that while Tanzania had long been discouraged from using uranium for power generation, many developed countries rely heavily on nuclear energy.
“We have the raw materials here, but are told it’s risky—only for them to extract and use it for their own benefit.”
President Hassan urged the ministry of Energy to prioritise the development of the uranium project in Tunduru and ensure the country gains from the resource before any is exported.
“It’s important that the ministry oversees this project so that investors can start operations, and we can begin to benefit. If they want to extract it, let them—but only after we have secured gains for the country.”
According to her, Tanzania holds an estimated 58,500 tonnes of uranium, and exploration could reveal even more.
“This project must go ahead. If other countries can use nuclear energy, so can we—to meet our domestic electricity needs and to export to neighbouring countries such as Zambia, as we intend,” she said.
Modular nuclear reactors
Mr Mramba said the ministry of Energy had been selected to lead the programme, and the next steps would include advanced training, site identification, safety assessments, and technology selection.
He added that Tanzania was considering modular nuclear reactors, a newer and safer technology, as a more viable and scalable alternative to traditional large nuclear plants.
“These small reactors offer improved safety and lower spatial requirements, and are now globally recognised as part of the clean energy transition,” Mr Mramba said.
The government is considering starting with a 600 to 1,000 megawatt plant, he said, adding that the investment is expected to be state-led, with foreign partners brought on board only after Tanzania meets key international prerequisites.
“Nuclear is not something the private sector can just enter. It has to be state-led and meet global conditions. Once that’s done, we can select suitable partners,” he said, mentioning countries like France, South Korea, the United States, Russia, and China as the industry leaders.
Mr Mramba said Tanzania’s uranium reserves—particularly in Namtumbo—are substantial, and far exceed the country’s projected needs for power generation. Preliminary indications of further deposits have been observed in other regions, although mining is yet to begin.
He said while Tanzania is still in the early phases, neighbouring countries such as Uganda have already advanced, and Tanzanian experts are being sent abroad to learn from their experiences.
LNG
On the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Mr Mramba said Tanzania is in the final stages of signing the Host Government Agreement (HGA) and the Unified Production Sharing Agreement with the international investors.
“The agreements may be signed before the end of the financial year (end of June). That is our expectation, as only a few details remain to be finalised,” he said, adding that if it happens that some issues are not completed, the agreements would be signed shortly after June.
