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Charmaine Nageshwar
Having abundant energy resources is a prerequisite for a prosperous economy. Usually, if a country controls these energy resources, it uses some for domestic consumption and exports the rest. The situation in Namibia is different. Although Namibia is one of the world’s largest uranium producers, it imports two-thirds of its electricity from neighboring countries. This contradiction exposes the country to energy insecurity and economic inefficiency. As Namibia seeks sustainable and reliable electricity solutions, it is time for Namibia to rethink its energy strategy, especially from the perspective of nuclear power.
Namibia has rich uranium resources and contributes significantly to the global supply of this key element used in nuclear fuel. These include the world-renowned mines of Rossing, Khasab and Langerheinrich, which produce thousands of tons of uranium oxide for export each year. According to the World Nuclear Association, in 2022, Namibia was the third largest exporter. However, it is caught in a paradox: Namibia is spending millions of dollars importing electricity while shipping out this valuable resource. This practice is not only economically unwise, but also undermines energy sovereignty.
Earlier this year, Namibian MP Tjekero Tweya told an international nuclear energy event in Sochi, Russia, that a lack of skills was an objective obstacle to building nuclear power plants, but that “there is no clear plan to address these two deficiencies so that we can produce energy on our own. Every country starts somewhere, but after a few years they all make some progress. In the past, we improved our position in global uranium production. But it is difficult to prove that this is in Namibia’s favor, as Namibia is the second largest uranium producer in the world.”
Currently, Namibia relies heavily on electricity imports from neighboring countries, especially South Africa. The South African energy system is inadequate to meet domestic consumption due to infrastructure issues and a lack of sufficient investment in new generation capacity to meet growing demand. Eskom, the state-owned power company that sells electricity to Namibia, faces financial difficulties, including high debt. The power purchase agreement with Eskom expires in 2025, and although South African officials have publicly stated that they will continue to honor the agreement, these statements come against the backdrop of ongoing rolling blackouts in South Africa.
So, on the one hand, Namibia generates less than half of what it consumes, and its power generation facilities rarely, if ever, operate at full capacity. On the other hand, it relies on energy exports from a country that cannot even meet its own needs. Namibia’s domestic electricity supply is already unable to meet current demand, and keeping up with growing demand is simply impossible.
This makes the country more vulnerable to external supply disruptions and price fluctuations. As demand for electricity continues to rise, so too does the strain on the national grid and economy. This is not just an economic issue, but a strategic one; energy security is vital to the country’s development and stability.
The solution to Namibia’s energy paradox lies within itself. By developing domestic nuclear power using uranium resources, the energy landscape can be transformed. Nuclear power is a reliable, low-carbon energy source that can meet growing electricity demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, building a nuclear power plant can create jobs, stimulate local industry and promote technological advancement.
Currently, Namibia has an installed capacity of about 650 MW, but this is expected to grow to 1,243 MW by 2040, according to World Bank projections. Namibia’s National Integrated Resource Plan (NIRP), a 20-year blueprint for the power sector that forecasts Namibia’s electricity needs, is even more ambitious, forecasting that national electricity demand will grow to 930 MW by 2025 and 1,348 MW by 2030. Namibia’s latest National Development Plan, a strategic framework that outlines the country’s long-term development goals and priorities for a specific period, also forecasts a significant increase in electricity demand.
For a developing country like Namibia, opting for small nuclear power plants instead of the traditional large 1,000 MW plants could be a good starting point to familiarize people with the technology without spending too much money.
Namibia’s long and largely undeveloped coastline offers a unique opportunity to deploy floating nuclear power units (FPUs). These small nuclear power plants, which have been tested in countries such as Russia, offer a flexible and safe energy solution. FPUs are particularly beneficial to coastal countries because they can be located offshore, minimizing impacts on land use and local communities.
Floating nuclear power plants can provide a stable and reliable source of electricity directly to the grid, reducing the need for extensive and expensive transmission infrastructure. In addition, floating nuclear power plants are located offshore, which can alleviate some of the risks of traditional nuclear power plants, such as cooling challenges and onshore safety issues.
Adopting nuclear power, especially through innovative solutions such as FPU, will not only ensure a stable energy supply, but also position Namibia as a leader in modern energy technology. This move could attract international investment and cooperation, catalyzing a new era of economic growth and sustainable development.
In conclusion, it is time for Namibia to escape its energy paradox. By using its own uranium resources to power the country, it can achieve energy independence, economic resilience and environmental stewardship. The path to a sustainable and self-sufficient energy future lies in embracing nuclear energy – a resource the country already possesses in abundance. The Namibian government has made a clear policy position to supply its own electricity with nuclear energy by around 2018 – now is the time to act.
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