Tanzania is set to beat many countries around the world in the production of uranium.

Preparations are in top gear to start production of the mineral in southern and central parts of the country.

It is expected that the Mkuju River uranium project in Namtumbo district, Ruvuma Region, will start production this year.

Mantra Tanzania Limited is developing the project which is in advanced stage. Speaking in Namtumbo over the weekend, the Mantra Tanzania managing director, Mr Tony Devlin said that the

development of the project, whose feasibility study was completed in March this year, is progressing well.

He said that on completion, the mine has the potential of producing over 1,650 tonnes of uranium oxide a year and will overtake the US production which produces 1,560 tonnes.

Under this rate, he said, Tanzania will be in the list of eight largest producers of uranium oxide in the world.

"The project is shaping up as a truly world-class investment and has the potential, in its first phase of its development it will position the country as the third largest producer of uranium in Africa," he told when a team of stakeholders lead by Ruvuma regional commissioner, Ms Christine Ishengoma, visited the site.

Mr Devlin added that at this level of production, Tanzania will produce three times more uranium oxide than South Africa.

He mentioned some of the benefits of the production to the country as foreign direct investment (FDI) of $298 million (about Sh417 billion), creation of over 1,200 jobs during the construction of the mine and a further 600 permanent jobs when the mine start production.

Another benefit includes generation of approximately $220 million (about Sh308 billion) in foreign exchange.

"But this project will also position Tanzania on the world map as it will be among the top ten world producers of uranium in the world," Mr Devlin said.

Speaking during the tour, Ms Ishengoma, said that the project would make a big impact in the region and the nation in general.

"This is a good project which we should be proud of because there are enormous social and economic benefits attached to it," she said.

Ms Ishengoma was sure that the company would offer employment to hundreds of youth in the area and also support other economic and social activities.

"We have been told by the management of the company that they will source most of the supplies like food locally. This is encouraging because many people here, who happen to be farmers, will be able to make good business with the company," she said.

She challenged residents in the region to use the opportunities to start up businesses that could generate money.

"But I caution them they should not think that whatever they produce will be purchased by the company. They have to think about quality and quantity. Also produce what the company wants to buy," she cautioned.

The RC appealed to the central government to give the company all the necessary support to make the project a dream come true.