Govt calls halt to uranium licences

AS applications pour into Namibia from companies intending to prospect for uranium, the Ministry of Mines and Energy has stopped accepting such requests.

It will soon announce a moratorium in the Government Gazette. The Namibian has it on good authority that the Ministry stopped accepting applications for uranium prospecting and exploration two months ago.This comes hot on the heels of a similar moratorium slapped on the granting of diamond cutting and polishing licences by the same Ministry early this month, after the renewal of a five-year sales agreement between Government and De Beers on January 30.In the last two years, Namibia has become a global attraction because of its mineral deposits hugely in demand on international markets, like uranium and diamonds.In an interview with The Namibian yesterday, the Permanent Secretary of Mines and Energy, Joseph Iita, confirmed that no applications were currently being accepted, adding that more would soon be revealed in the Government Gazette.”It’s a matter of regulating the issue of licences.Everyone is running to Namibia for uranium and we don’t want every Jack and Jill mining uranium …,” he said.Iita also said uranium was a special mineral, adding that the Government was reconsidering its policies on the resource.He said there was an upsurge in the global demand for uranium, hence the need to regulate uranium activities.Said Iita: “The world is now highly advanced and has come up with all sorts of uses for uranium.In the end uranium is not only used for the generation of electricity, but can be used for destructive purposes as well.”Local and international companies alike have of late been rushing in with applications for uranium prospecting and mining in Namibia.To date, more than 20 mining outfits are doing uranium prospecting and exploration, mainly in the Erongo Region.These companies are of an international mix with various owners from Namibia, China, Australia and Ghana, among a host of others.However, there are currently only two active uranium mines – Roessing Uranium and Langer Heinrich Uranium.With the possibility of a looming power crunch in southern Africa, nuclear power is being touted as an alternative power source.Last month the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced that Government was considering a nuclear power plant to escape the impending energy crisis and was looking for international partners to achieve this.Namibia imports about 50 per cent of its electricity needs, mainly from South Africa.The Namibian has it on good authority that the Ministry stopped accepting applications for uranium prospecting and exploration two months ago.This comes hot on the heels of a similar moratorium slapped on the granting of diamond cutting and polishing licences by the same Ministry early this month, after the renewal of a five-year sales agreement between Government and De Beers on January 30.In the last two years, Namibia has become a global attraction because of its mineral deposits hugely in demand on international markets, like uranium and diamonds.In an interview with The Namibian yesterday, the Permanent Secretary of Mines and Energy, Joseph Iita, confirmed that no applications were currently being accepted, adding that more would soon be revealed in the Government Gazette.”It’s a matter of regulating the issue of licences.Everyone is running to Namibia for uranium and we don’t want every Jack and Jill mining uranium …,” he said.Iita also said uranium was a special mineral, adding that the Government was reconsidering its policies on the resource.He said there was an upsurge in the global demand for uranium, hence the need to regulate uranium activities.Said Iita: “The world is now highly advanced and has come up with all sorts of uses for uranium.In the end uranium is not only used for the generation of electricity, but can be used for destructive purposes as well.” Local and international companies alike have of late been rushing in with applications for uranium prospecting and mining in Namibia.To date, more than 20 mining outfits are doing uranium prospecting and exploration, mainly in the Erongo Region.These companies are of an international mix with various owners from Namibia, China, Australia and Ghana, among a host of others.However, there are currently only two active uranium mines – Roessing Uranium and Langer Heinrich Uranium.With the possibility of a looming power crunch in southern Africa, nuclear power is being touted as an alternative power source.Last month the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced that Government was considering a nuclear power plant to escape the impending energy crisis and was looking for international partners to achieve this.Namibia imports about 50 per cent of its electricity needs, mainly from South Africa.