The Namibian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, has held discussions in Moscow regarding the expansion of cooperation between Namibia and Russia, with a particular focus on nuclear energy.
Minister Ashipala-Musavyi met with Nikolai Spassky, Deputy Director General of Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation, to explore opportunities for collaboration in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Discussions included joint efforts in the exploitation of uranium deposits and preparations for the signing of a framework intergovernmental agreement between the two nations. This agreement aims to solidify the foundation for long-term partnerships in the energy sector.
The Namibian Foreign Minister also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, where both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade and economic cooperation. Minister Lavrov highlighted several promising areas for collaboration, including geological exploration, the extraction and processing of mineral resources such as uranium, energy projects, the agro-industrial complex, and fisheries.
Namibia is a significant uranium producer, contributing approximately 10% of global production and possessing an estimated 5% of the world’s known uranium resources. The Namibian government has been considering the adoption of nuclear energy for several years as part of its strategy to diversify its energy sources and enhance its energy security.
This move signals a potential shift in Namibia’s energy policy and could have significant implications for the global uranium market. Further developments are expected following the potential signing of the framework agreement.
