Namibia is one of the world’s uranium powerhouses.
It ranks among the top three producers globally, with massive reserves extracted from mines like Rössing, Husab and Langer Heinrich.
The country’s uranium quietly powers homes and industries in countries such as France, China, the United States, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.
And yet, we – the source of so much energy – remain energy-dependent.
Namibia imports more than 60% of its electricity from neighbours like South Africa and Zambia.
The domestic energy supply is unreliable, electricity costs are high, and industries suffer from limited access to stable, affordable power.
This is not just an energy crisis – it’s a strategic failure.
IRANIAN EQUATION
The irony deepens when one considers that Iran, a country long subject to international sanctions, owns 15% of Namibia’s uranium production through its shareholding in the Rössing Uranium Mine.
Iran has developed its own nuclear energy programme and generates thousands of megawatts of clean, reliable electricity.
Meanwhile, Namibia, with one of the richest uranium reserves in the world, continues to sell uranium as a raw commodity – while importing expensive electricity to keep our lights on.
Namibia must stop exporting its future in yellowcake drums.
Instead of selling uranium to power other nations, we should be harnessing it to power our own development.
Uranium, when responsibly used, offers a clean, low-carbon and stable energy source.
It complements our abundant solar and wind resources and could transform Namibia into a clean energy hub for Africa.
This is not just about national pride, it’s about smart economics.
Namibia spends billions annually on imported electricity, money that could instead fund local infrastructure and energy projects.
A nuclear energy programme, starting with Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), would provide stable, affordable base-load energy.
These modern reactors are safer, more efficient, and tailored to countries with small populations and limited grids.
THINK BEYOND EXPORTS
Developing nuclear power would not only ensure energy security but also create jobs, stimulate innovation and attract investment.
Namibia’s universities could produce a new generation of nuclear engineers and scientists.
Our regulatory institutions could become regional leaders in nuclear safety.
More importantly, instead of just exporting raw uranium, Namibia could move up the value chain, processing uranium locally, producing fuel, or exporting clean electricity to neighbours.
Globally, nuclear energy is being re-evaluated.
Countries like Germany and Japan, once sceptical, are reassessing their exit strategies.
In Africa, Egypt, Ghana and Rwanda are advancing nuclear plans.
Namibia, sitting on some of the world’s most strategic uranium, cannot afford to be left behind.
WE NEED A CLEAR PLAN
Modern nuclear technology has evolved.
Designs are safer, waste management is more advanced and long-term costs are competitive.
The biggest hurdle is not the science, it’s political will, strategic planning and regulatory reform.
Namibia is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and qualifies for technical support and partnerships.
What we lack is a national strategy, a clear roadmap to transition from a uranium exporter to an energy self-sufficient nation.
This should include policy reform, citizen engagement, environmental safeguards and collaboration with countries that have successfully developed peaceful nuclear programmes.
It should also define how we integrate nuclear into our broader clean energy goals alongside solar, wind and green hydrogen.
We’ve talked about value addition in mining for years. But real value addition means using our uranium to light up our own towns and industries, not just selling it raw to fuel someone else’s grid.
LIGHT UP NAMIBIA
Namibia has a rare opportunity to become Africa’s clean energy powerhouse. We already export uranium to power Paris, Beijing and Tokyo.
It’s time we used that same resource to power Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Ongwediva.
We can no longer be content with being a raw material economy.
Namibia must think bigger: Invest in itself, build modern energy infrastructure, and claim the full benefits of the resources it owns.
This is our uranium. It should power our future.
- Elvis Mboya is president of the Namibia-Kenya Chamber of Commerce and a former journalist in Namibia and Kenya.
