STAFF WRITER
Namibia and Russia have agreed to speed up the process of crafting a nuclear cooperation deal.
According to reports from Russia, the two countries are keen to lay the framework to cooperate on a ‘peaceful and strategic’ engagement that will see one of the world’s nuclear corporations, Rasatom develop a nuclear plant in Namibia for energy production.
Minister of Trade and International Relations Selma Ashipala-Masavyi met her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov last week and the two countries agreed to come up with a framework that will fast track talks towards nuclear development in Namibia. The meeting took place in Russia.
Speaking after the meeting with Ashipala-Musavyi, Lavrov said “promising areas of our interaction in the material sphere include geological exploration, extraction and processing of mineral resources, including uranium, energy, the agro-industrial complex, and fisheries”.
Southern Africa currently has only one nuclear power plant in South Africa, but the Namibian government last year said nuclear power will form one of the solutions to its long standing power problems in future.
The key details of the agreement and ongoing collaboration between Namibia and Russia on nuclear energy includes an intergovernmental agreement between the two states.
Russian media said the discussions between Namibia and Russia saw Ashipala-Musavyi meeting with Nikolay Spassky, Rosatom’s Deputy Director General for International Affairs
The two reported to have discussed prospects for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including joint work on uranium deposits, and preparations for the signing of a framework intergovernmental agreement.
Namibia is a major producer of uranium, capable of producing around 10% of world output, and is home to about 5% of the world’s total known uranium resources. Its government has been considering adopting nuclear energy.
Namibia and Russia agreed to accelerate the preparation of a formal intergovernmental agreement to serve as the legal framework for joint nuclear projects.
Rosatom is currently conducting uranium exploration in Namibia through its subsidiary, Uranium One. The goal is to complete exploration by 2026 and commence active mining operations by 2029. The Uranium One project has in the past faced significant resistance from the farming community in the area of Stamproiet who raise concern over potential groundwater contamination.
Russian media said Namibia is exploring the development of its first nuclear power plant to enhance energy security and reduce its heavy reliance on electricity imports from South Africa while Russia has positioned itself as a primary partner for this project, offering expertise in nuclear safety, regulatory development, and skills transfer.
“Namibia aims to move beyond just exporting raw uranium—as the world’s third-largest producer—by developing domestic processing and refining capabilities. Namibian officials emphasized that their nuclear ambitions are strictly for civilian purposes and comply with international non-proliferation standards.
“Beyond nuclear energy, the talks identified mining, agriculture, fisheries, and geological exploration as priority areas for expanded bilateral cooperation,” Russian media said.
While Namibia is also in discussions with other global powers like China and the United States regarding its uranium industry, the meetings in Moscow have solidified Russia’s role as a lead partner in Namibia’s nuclear energy roadmap.
Last year Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) threw their weight behind the construction of a nuclear energy plant in Namibia in the future.
The opposition party said nuclear energy is a potential solution to Namibia’s recurrent power challenges.
IPC Parliamentarian and Official Opposition Leader in Parliament Imms Nashinge who recently attended the Atomic Energy Week in Russia told Namibia Business Review that the country is better off pursuing nuclear energy as a solution to the power challenges as compared to Green Hydrogen which he says is still in its experimental stage.
“We stand to benefit more if we use our already existing uranium resources to create a nuclear plant. Our experience from this trip showed that there are investors who are keen to come to Namibia and develop such facilities. Our policy is very clear on energy. Namibia can easily develop a nuclear power plant .This will solve the power challenges we face once and for all,” Nashinge said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM WORLD NUCLEAR NEWS
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