STAFF WRITER
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, has appointed John Titus, Director in the Department of Energy in the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, as Nuclear Commissioner.
The appointment is in line with the Government strengthening the institutional and technical foundations for Namibia’s long-term nuclear power development.
The Prime Minister has also constituted the Management Committee of the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation (NEPIO), comprising the Executive Directors of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, the Ministry of International Relations and Trade; and the Ministry of Health and Social Services, together with the Executive Director of the National Planning Commission.
As Nuclear Commissioner, Titus will serve as the central coordinator of NEPIO’s technical activities and head the Secretariat supporting the Management Committee.
He will coordinate the work of relevant technical structures and Government institutions to ensure a systematic and integrated approach to the development of the necessary nuclear energy infrastructure.
The NEPIO Management Committee will provide strategic direction, high-level policy coordination and oversight. Its composition reflects the cross-government responsibilities involved in advancing nuclear energy, including energy policy, health, international relations, national planning and the coordination of Government.
NEPIO will serve as the national coordinating mechanism, bringing together the institutions and expertise required to address the complex and interrelated considerations associated with nuclear power development. Its work will support informed decision-making and the establishment of the conditions necessary for safe, secure and sustainable implementation.
“The decision to support a long-term nuclear power programme is a decision to invest in the institutional, technical and human capacity required to prepare Namibia for its future energy needs. It is not a shortcut around the rigorous processes that must govern nuclear power development. Safety, environmental protection, affordability, energy security and the long- term interests of Namibians and future generations must remain at the centre of this programme,” the Prime Minister said.
In a statement the Prime minister’s office said these developments mark an important step in the Government’s efforts to establish the policy, institutional, technical, regulatory and human-resource capacity required for the responsible introduction of nuclear power in Namibia.
Namibia is a significant uranium-producing country and has, over many years, considered how its natural resource endowment could contribute more directly to national development and energy security.
The nuclear energy initiative forms part of the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen long-term energy security and explore the role of nuclear power alongside other sources in the country’s future energy mix.
The statement also said Government is advancing this work in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Milestones Approach, which provides a structured framework for developing the infrastructure and institutional capacity necessary for the introduction of nuclear power.
This involves careful consideration of the full range of requirements associated with the eventual development, commissioning and safe operation of a nuclear power station.Key areas of focus include nuclear safety and security; the legal and regulatory framework; financing and affordability; radioactive waste management; environmental protection; human-resource development; electricity-grid requirements; site selection; nuclear fuel-cycle considerations; emergency preparedness; and public and stakeholder engagement.
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