Tanzania: One More Mineral Hit As Niobium Pops

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Dodoma — Tanzania will soon add another significant cog in its industrial sector, joining other large producers and exporters of niobium, a mineral that has extensive uses around the world.
This was said yesterday by the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Dr Medrad Kalemani, during the National Assembly's questions and answer session.This was said yesterday by the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Dr Medrad Kalemani, during the National Assembly's questions and answer session.
In his basic question, Mbeya Rural MP, Mr Oran Njeza (CCM), had sought to know why the government was not involving the Mbeya District Council in mineral extraction projects that it expects to start soon around the Songwe Highlands as well as the geothermal project at Ijombe, Swaya Ward and Songwe Valley. He also wanted to know how Mbeya rural residents will benefit from the projects

Dr Kalemani said in response that the government has already contracted Cradle Resources Ltd/RECB Company Limited in an arrangement in which it was given three licences to begin medium extraction of the minerals in Songwe Region. He told the House that the company was in the meantime finalising procedures to start construction of the mine by December 2017.
The deputy minister told the House that already officials from Cradle Resources Ltd/RECB Company Limited have introduced themselves and their company to Mbeya regional authorities, which also includes Songwe Prison, where the project will also be extended to.
According to Dr Kalemani, the company was currently holding talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Songwe Prison to charter better ways of relocating the prison so that the project could start.
The deputy minister said the country has a large reserve of the mineral, which was important for the industrial sector. He noted that the temperature stability of niobium-containing super alloys is important for its use in jet and rocket engine manufacturing.
"Niobium is used in various superconducting materials," he said, adding that these superconducting alloys also contain titanium and tin, which are widely used in the superconducting magnets of MRI scanners. Other apGeothermal Development Company Limitedplications of niobium, the deputy minister said, include its use in pipelines.