Dar Es Salaam — EVER since the government confirmed that there are uranium reserves in the country, it has become a subject of interest for many.
Some sections of the public, environment and health activists have been at the heart of organising discussions and seminars, to make sure that the treasure does not become a curse for a developing nation like Tanzania.
Some have been in favour of its exploration and exploitation but others are of the view that the country does not have what it takes to dig it out.
School sites like Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine and the Three Mile Island in the US, are direct example indicators of poor handling of such resources.
"If these incidences happened to energy developed technology countries like the US and Ukraine, what will happen to ours, where the majority don't take precautions in whatever they do?" asks a stakeholder in Dar es Salaam.
Available reports say that uranium mineralization was first identified in Tanzania in 1978-1982 by Uranerzbergbau GmbH (UEB).
The firm identified airborne radiometric anomalies during this period, leading to the discovery of two uranium deposits at Mkuju and Mdaba in southern and central Tanzania, respectively.
Recently, there have been efforts to carry out explorations for various minerals. Among these minerals, Uranium is one of them and there are companies, which have been carrying out the explorations in various parts of Tanzania including the Mkuju River Project (MRP), which is under the Mantra Resources Limited.
According to the MRP, it has about forty-four point four (44.4) million pounds of U3O8 (type of uranium compound) in an area of 100 km2.
Mantra Resources Limited is planning to start mining and processing of uranium at Mkuju on the year 2012, with an estimated annual production of 2.5 million pounds per year.
It is estimated that at this production rate, Tanzania will be among the top five producers of uranium ore in the world. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the uranium deposit at Mkuju River Project will remain potential for the next ten years.
Nevertheless, it is well known that Uranium mines are associated with a risk of radiation exposure to the workers, public and cause environmental radioactivity contamination.
By virtue of this fact, there has been increasing regulatory concern all over the world to protect the safety of workers, public and the environment, prior to mining.
"The main exposure pathways to public and workers in uranium mines include; direct exposure due to gamma radiation from the mine rocks,
tailings and/or attachment of radionuclides, to aerosols and inhalation of radionuclides airborne dust containing uranium, thorium and its radioactive daughter progeny", points out Prof Iddi Mkilaha from the country's atomic energy authority.
Radionuclides are often referred to by chemists and physicists as radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes, and play an important part in the technologies that provide us with food, water and good health.
Prof Mkilaha says others include; dose from ingestion of radionuclide in any dust, which has been collected on hands and transferred to mouth when eating, smoking or drinking water; and absorption of radionuclides through skin via cuts and abrasions.
Since all the pathways lead to human exposure to radiation, hence protection in exposure to such radiation in uranium mines in the country is vital and important.
In order to collect data for the regulatory authority to make dose assessment, and to advise the mine authorities on radiation control measures and provide proper guidance on the required radiation protection coordination between the two entities is important.
This is the reason for the call made by Mantra Resources Limited and Ruvuma Region authorities to clarify safety issues related to exploration and subsequently mining of uranium in the Mkuju River Project.
As part of safety commitment at Mkuju River Project, Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) was requested by the management of Mantra to provide advice on an effective radiation safety assessment and monitoring procedure required before commencement of the anticipated mining activities.
In addition, the Mantra Resources Limited requested TAEC to advise on the management of waste rock and samples at the mine site.
Besides, there was concern from the Ruvuma Region authority on the need to educate the people on the risks and measures necessary for the mining and exploration of Uranium in the MRP area and its surroundings.
In response to the aforesaid requests, a team from the TAEC led by the Director General, Prof Mkilaha and the Director of Nuclear Technology, Mr Firmi P.
Banzi, visited and inspected the activities at the Mkuju River Project sites late last year.
According to the team of inspectors, working and safety standards for both the public and workers are so far adhered to.
It was found out that all employees at the mine site undergo medical check-up on a yearly basis to verify their health status. This is reflected on the company brochure and slogan for "Usalama Kwanza" and briefings for guests before entering the mine site.
It was also observed that the company complies with almost all the radiation safety requirements and preservation of the environment.
Posters at the mine sites emphasize the use of personal protection equipments (PPE), preservation of the natural biota and vegetations, recycling of empty bottles and calls to be kind to animals found at the mine sites.
In order to find a strategy to deal with the current spread worries among the public around the uranium mine, the team was requested to visit and discuss with officials at the district of Namtumbo, where the mine is located.
Following this discussion, it was observed that there is a need for TAEC to plan and conduct three special awareness training modules specifically for the mine workers and high ranking officials at Ruvuma region and the district.
It was agreed that the programme will entail education to public and workers on the type of radiation, radioactive materials, doses and risks associated with uranium mines.
During this mission, dose rates measurements were performed at various locations of the mines to establish exposure doses.
Two detectors (An Identifier and RED eye pager) were employed to establish confidence levels of the measurements.
The results of measurements from the two detectors were compared and the average dose rate ranged from 30 to 100 µSv/h at the hot spots when compared with background dose rate ranges from 0.04 to 0.06 µSv/h at the campsite.
The high dose rates measured at the mine sites is a good indication for high surface enrichment of uranium at the areas and with significant high levels of uranium mineralization.
Since the country's dependence on hydropower had proved problematic in energy production, while natural gas and coal are insufficient to meet the demand, thus the need to develop nuclear energy is inevitable.
When quoted by the local media mid this year, the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Professor Peter Msolla, said the country's substantial uranium deposits in Dodoma and Ruvuma will be developed to allow the country to generate electricity.
