Opposition MP queries nuke deal

AN opposition MP has charged that a meeting between a Russian cabinet minister and the Namibian Government last month was “secret”, as it dealt with an offer of the Russian government to build several nuclear power plants in Namibia.

DTA politician McHenry Venaani wanted to know from Prime Minister Nahas Angula, who held talks with the Russian delegation a month ago, if it was indeed a “secret meeting”, since that official item on the Prime Minister’s calendar was not conveyed to the local media and as a result not reported on. “Is it true you met the Russian Energy Minister secretly …?” Venaani questioned the Prime Minister in the National Assembly on Tuesday and asked him to inform the House on details of that meeting.Venaani also wanted to know if international media reports were true that Russia wanted to construct 60 nuclear power plants around the world, including in Namibia.”Has the Russian delegation expressed its intention, either literally or in passing, about putting up such plants, including a nuclear floating plant in Namibia?” Venaani wanted to know from Angula.”What happens to the atomic waste of such plants and is Government aware of the constitutional prohibition of atomic and toxic waste storage? Has Government signed any bilateral agreements with Russia for nuclear cooperation?” he asked.The Prime Minister is expected to reply today.Chapter 11 (l) of the Namibian Constitution stipulates that “the State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting inter alia policies aimed at the …maintenance of eco-systems, essential ecological processes and biological diversity of Namibia; … in particular Government shall provide measures against the dumping or recycling of foreign nuclear and toxic waste on Namibian territory.””Is it true you met the Russian Energy Minister secretly …?” Venaani questioned the Prime Minister in the National Assembly on Tuesday and asked him to inform the House on details of that meeting.Venaani also wanted to know if international media reports were true that Russia wanted to construct 60 nuclear power plants around the world, including in Namibia.”Has the Russian delegation expressed its intention, either literally or in passing, about putting up such plants, including a nuclear floating plant in Namibia?” Venaani wanted to know from Angula.”What happens to the atomic waste of such plants and is Government aware of the constitutional prohibition of atomic and toxic waste storage? Has Government signed any bilateral agreements with Russia for nuclear cooperation?” he asked.The Prime Minister is expected to reply today.Chapter 11 (l) of the Namibian Constitution stipulates that “the State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting inter alia policies aimed at the …maintenance of eco-systems, essential ecological processes and biological diversity of Namibia; … in particular Government shall provide measures against the dumping or recycling of foreign nuclear and toxic waste on Namibian territory.”