Namibia will push for its admission into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) at next month’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, following Cabinet approval of the country’s application.
The NSG is a 48-member body that regulates the export of nuclear materials, equipment and technology to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation.
Membership would give Namibia greater access to nuclear technology and international cooperation, as the country seeks to develop its own nuclear energy capacity.
Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofilus, confirmed that a high-level Namibian delegation will attend the conference to engage with the IAEA Director General and the NSG Chairperson.
“Cabinet approved the application for Namibia to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group,” Theofilus said.
Cabinet has instructed the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation to update the application dossier and serve as the main liaison. An inter-ministerial committee will be formed to oversee the implementation of NSG requirements and ensure compliance with international nuclear standards.
“Cabinet also further directed the Ministry of International Relations and Trade to coordinate the technical updates to the dossier, act as a focal point, and establish an inter-ministerial committee tasked with implementing the NSG’s guidelines,” she added.
In a further step, the Ministry of Mines and Energy has been authorised to establish a national independent nuclear regulator. The body will be responsible for enforcing safety, security and safeguard measures aligned with global protocols.
Namibia holds roughly 7% of the world’s uranium reserves and is one of the top producers of uranium used in global nuclear energy generation. The country is now moving to use its own uranium resources domestically, with long-term plans to develop a nuclear power plant.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has publicly backed the move, saying nuclear energy should play a role in ensuring Namibia’s energy security and supporting its development goals.
Consultations with the IAEA are already underway, with the government estimating that it will take at least 10 years to bring a nuclear plant online.
