Tanzania to develop uranium deposits

WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- In the wake of encouraging surveys of the country's uranium deposits, Tanzania's government is developing a policy on nuclear energy.

Dar es Salaam Daily News reported on July 24 that Tanzania's Minister of Communications, Science and Technology Professor Peter Msolla said the country's rich uranium deposits in Dodoma and Ruvuma will be developed to allow the country to generate electricity.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, visiting Tanzania, said, "We have already proposed a nuclear policy and as I am talking now, it is being discussed at higher levels to set a ground on how it can be implemented."

ElBaradei commented to journalists that even as his agency could provide technical guidance, African nations should pool their resources in surveying their deposits as well as in the technical issues of connecting electricity generated by nuclear power to their national grids, observing, "Exploration of uranium and eventual production of nuclear energy is not an easy task. It may take as many as ten years and beyond and consumes huge resources. It is better that you join forces to implement that."