Namibia seeks cooperation with the United States, Russia and China to promote the uranium industry
¬ Namibia signed a memorandum of understanding with US company NANO Nuclear to promote uranium processing
¬ The agreement brings the United States into nuclear cooperation negotiations with Namibia alongside China and Russia
¬ A formal nuclear agreement has not yet been reached, but Namibia plans to build its first nuclear power plant
On June 20, Friday, the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the US-based NANO Nuclear Energy. The agreement aims to "significantly increase" Namibia's uranium resources. This move makes the United States a potential partner in local yellow cake processing alongside Russia and China.
Namibia is Africa's largest producer of uranium, supplying 10% of the world's uranium resources. The country is intensifying efforts to enhance the value of this key resource. At the beginning of this year, former President Hage Geingob reiterated this vision to the Chinese Foreign Minister. President Nangolo Mbumba Ndeti also expressed similar views during his meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev. President Ndeti specifically proposed the idea of establishing a nuclear energy partnership with Russia, especially in the development of Namibia's natural resources.
Engagement with these three nuclear powers holds significant strategic importance. China is the largest foreign investor in Namibia's uranium mining industry, holding interests in the Rossing and Husab uranium mines, and is also actively investing in its own nuclear power development. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), as of the end of 2024, there were a total of 63 nuclear reactors under construction worldwide, half of which are in China. Russia is another important player in the nuclear industry, controlling about 44% of global uranium enrichment capacity. Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation, is also actively operating in Namibia, with its subsidiary Uranium One developing the Wings project in Namibia. In addition, Washington hopes to diversify uranium supply sources by 2028 and reduce reliance on Russian enriched uranium, making such cooperation potentially beneficial for the United States as well.
The memorandum of understanding signed by NANO Nuclear Energy with the National Development Agency (NIDA) is seen as a milestone in its "driving the future of American nuclear energy" strategy. However, it is worth noting that these discussed initiatives have not yet translated into formal commitments between Namibia and these potential partners. NIDA and NANO Nuclear Energy intend to continue negotiations to reach a final agreement. It remains unclear whether Namibia has initiated similar talks with Russia and China. Regardless, this is significant for Namibia, as it not only aims to enhance the value of its uranium resources, but also hopes to build its first nuclear power plant.
Source: ecofinagency
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7519188318307779111/
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