Namibia has formally endorsed its bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the international body that regulates the export of nuclear materials and technology to prevent their use in weapons.
The Ministry of International Relations and Trade will lead the membership application, creating an inter-ministerial committee to ensure compliance with NSG guidelines, according to a cabinet statement.
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As part of the campaign, a Namibian delegation will lobby both the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the NSG chair on the sidelines of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Bloomberg reported.
Uranium — Namibia’s top mineral export — underpins the initiative. Production rose 59% year-on-year in April, according to the Chamber of Mines.
The World Nuclear Association estimates the country’s uranium mines could supply up to 10% of global nuclear fuel demand, reinforcing Namibia’s position as the world’s third-largest producer.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced in her first State of the Nation Address this year that the government will explore building Namibia’s first nuclear power plant, aiming to leverage uranium reserves and reduce reliance on electricity imports from South Africa.
The strategy has attracted foreign interest, particularly from Russia.
In June, reports reveal that state-owned energy giant Rosatom is seeking to play a key role in the development and operation of Namibia’s proposed nuclear facility.
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