Namibia has adopted a plan aimed at kickstarting its nuclear industry and strengthening its regulatory framework.
The decision taken at the last Cabinet meeting held late last month was announced by information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus in a media release last week.
According to her, the strategy aims to strengthen Namibia’s regulatory infrastructure, ensure independent oversight, and promote the development of nuclear projects.
The minister added that the Cabinet has also endorsed plans to establish a nuclear institute to spearhead the development and implementation of nuclear projects.
One of the immediate interventions includes conducting pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for flagship projects that could drive the nuclear industry’s growth, Theofelus said.
These include uranium value addition, small modular reactors, radioisotope production, industrial irradiation facilities, and research reactors.
Theofelus said the Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act (Act 5 of 2005) will be reassigned to the National Planning Commission, given its broader mandate for nuclear development.
The strategy will also fast-track the drafting of a White Paper on nuclear power by the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.
Namibia has already entered into formal consultations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the potential development of a nuclear power plant, a process expected to take about 10 years to complete.
The IAEA is regarded as a global authority in the nuclear field, with more than 9 000 scientific and technical publications covering nuclear power, radiation therapy, nuclear safety and security, and nuclear law.
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