British plans to invest in nuclear energy locally

LONDON – The British Institute of Technology and E-Commerce (BITE) is planning to invest in civil nuclear energy in Namibia.

A delegation from that organisation will visit Namibia soon to meet President Hifikepunye Pohamba to brief him on their plan of investing in a nuclear energy plant here.The head of strategic relations at BITE, Moeen Yaseen, said they want to provide energy to Namibia.’Namibia is rich in minerals such as uranium but is still struggling to get power energy from other countries, and we have world-class technology to invest in nuclear power energy,’ he said. Yaseen said they have already contacted officials from State House to arrange an appointment with the Namibian Head of State.Yaseen was among many businesspeople who attended a two-day Commonwealth Business Council/Africa Business Forum in London, United Kingdom last week.The Forum took place under the theme ‘Southern African Development Community (SADC): regional integration and drivers of growth’, and was officially opened by President Hifikepunye Pohamba.Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Energy Joseph Iita was quoted earlier as saying that Namibia is planning to construct a nuclear power station in the next ten years.Namibia has long relied on surplus energy from South Africa.Namibia’s electricity supply of some three billion kWh per year is half supplied by South Africa, which faces serious supply constraints itself.A coal-fired power plant is also planned for Walvis Bay.In April this year, the Namibian Government announced that its State-owned mineral exploration company, Epangelo Mining Ltd, would have exclusive control over new strategic minerals developments, including uranium.Namibia is the world’s fourth-largest uranium producing country, and has two significant uranium mines capable of providing ten per cent of world mining output with its first commercial uranium mine beginning operating in 1976. – Nampa