Since 1976, when Rio Tinto won the mining rights in the major Rossing field in the Namib Desert, Namibia has been a major source of uranium oxide for the world’s nuclear community and represents the third largest uranium producer in the world. While Namibia became a major exporter of uranium, the controls were in the hands of Rio Tinto, which was not especially beneficial to the country. Hearings were held regarding the issue at the United Nations entitled, “The Plunder of Namibian Uranium.” Luckily, the Rio Tinto holdings were bought out by a Chinese company, which now holds the lease

Now the country has decided to utilize these resources for its own development and will develop its own program of nuclear energy. The Prime Minister of Namibia has appointed a Nuclear Energy Commissioner to coordinate preparations for the project and establish a structure to provide strategic guidance and high-level policy coordination.

“The decision to support a long-term nuclear energy development program is an investment in the institutional, technical and human capital capacity needed to prepare Namibia to meet its future energy needs,” said Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare.