Faith Nyasuguta
Namibia’s growing energy sector has captured global attention, with Russia emerging as a key player in the country’s nuclear ambitions. The Southern African nation, already poised to become a major oil producer, is now exploring nuclear energy cooperation with Moscow, signaling a shift in its strategic alliances.
Over the past few years, Namibia has made significant strides in the energy sector, particularly in oil exploration. The country has discovered large offshore oil reserves, positioning it as a potential energy powerhouse in Africa. By 2024, experts estimated that Namibia could produce up to 700,000 barrels of oil per day, a milestone that would propel it to the fourth-largest oil producer in Africa within the next decade.
Namibia’s growing oil potential has not gone unnoticed. In May 2024, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) considered Namibia for potential membership, a move driven by the country’s significant oil discoveries. A year earlier, light oil was found 270 kilometers off Namibia’s coast through the Jonker-1X deep-water exploration project, involving Shell, Qatar Energy, and the state-owned National Petroleum Company of Namibia (NAMCOR).
These discoveries have sparked significant interest in Namibia’s energy potential and raised the country’s profile in the global oil market.
Beyond oil, Namibia is now setting its sights on nuclear energy, and Russia has emerged as a potential partner. Reports indicate that Namibia has been in discussions with Russia regarding the possibility of developing a nuclear power plant. If these discussions lead to an agreement, Namibia could become one of the few African nations with nuclear energy capabilities, a move that would significantly alter its energy landscape.
This development follows a high-level meeting in Windhoek between Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev. The talks focused on strengthening nuclear cooperation, with Namibia seeking to leverage its status as Africa’s largest uranium producer. Namibia holds some of the world’s most significant uranium reserves, making nuclear energy a logical step in its long-term energy strategy.
According to Namibian presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari, Russia is a dominant force in the nuclear sector, making it a strategic ally for Namibia’s nuclear ambitions. “Russia is a key player in the nuclear energy sector, and Namibia is rich in uranium,” Hengari stated.
Namibia has long sought to establish domestic processing and refining industries to maximize the benefits of its natural resources. If realized, a nuclear partnership with Russia could attract foreign investment, boost employment, and enhance Namibia’s energy independence.
If Namibia proceeds with its nuclear partnership with Russia, it could enhance its energy capacity, create jobs, and drive industrial growth.
RELATED:
