KEY POINTS
- Namibia’s NSG bid aims to boost nuclear trade credibility.
- Uranium output rose 59 percent in April.
- Russia’s Rosatom eyes partnership in nuclear power plans.
Namibia has formally endorsed its bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a 48-member intergovernmental body that regulates the export of nuclear materials and technology to curb their use in weapons.
The decision marks a strategic pivot for the southern African nation, whose uranium industry ranks among the most significant in the world.
The Ministry of International Relations and Trade will lead the application process, supported by an inter-ministerial committee to align Namibia’s regulatory framework with NSG requirements.
The effort will be showcased on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s annual General Conference in Vienna, where Namibian delegates will lobby the NSG chairperson and member states.
Uranium exports drive Namibia’s nuclear ambitions
Uranium remains a cornerstone of Namibia’s export economy, serving as the primary fuel for nuclear power plants worldwide. In April, uranium output surged 59 percent year on year, data from the Chamber of Mines showed.
The World Nuclear Association estimates that Namibia’s mines could supply up to 10 percent of global demand for nuclear fuel—a scale that reinforces its geopolitical importance.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has made nuclear energy a central pillar of her administration’s energy policy. During her first State of the Nation Address this year, she announced plans to explore the development of Namibia’s first nuclear power plant.
The initiative seeks to harness vast domestic uranium reserves and reduce dependence on electricity imports from South Africa, which currently provide a large share of Namibia’s power needs.
Russia signals interest in Namibia’s nuclear future
Namibia’s overtures to the NSG have attracted attention from major nuclear players, most notably Russia. Moscow’s state-backed nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, has expressed readiness to collaborate on Namibia’s nuclear energy infrastructure.
In June, Business Insider Africa reported that Rosatom is positioning itself as a key partner in the construction and operation of the proposed nuclear facility.
By securing NSG membership, Namibia aims to solidify its credibility as a responsible nuclear supplier, expand its role in the global energy market, and leverage its uranium wealth to fuel both domestic power generation and international trade.
For a nation seeking energy self-reliance and economic diversification, the path to Vienna could be just as consequential as the uranium buried beneath its soil.
