Namibia vigorously pursuing nuclear energy

Dr Kaire Mbuende, Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC) of Namibia, told the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on 20 January 2026 that Namibia is "vigorously pursuing electricity generation from nuclear power".

Speaking at a high-level session on ‘The Future of Nuclear Energy in Africa,’ Mbuende said that there has already been a wide-ranging debate in Namibia about the prospects for developing a nuclear industry.

“The initial impetus emanated from the need to diversify mining and add value to the country’s mineral resources, including uranium, of which we are a major producer. The need for energy security has also been an important consideration,” he said.

Energy is a driver of economic development and an indicator of the social and economic progress of any nation, according to the NPC Director General. “As such, we regard access to affordable energy as a right to which all our people are entitled. Unfortunately, less than 60% of our population currently has access to electricity.”

Currently, Namibia imports 60% of its electricity supply from South Africa through the Southern African Power Pool. Locally generated capacity comes from hydro (72.3%), solar (24.6%), coal (1.6%) and wind (1.1%), Mbuende elaborated.

“With rising energy demand in our neighbouring country, coupled with recurrent droughts due to the effects of climate change, Namibia could face energy insecurity if we do not take decisive measures. We are making efforts to optimise the use of solar and wind in our energy mix. The nascent oil and gas sector, as well as hydrogen, could also help mitigate Namibia’s energy deficit,” he said.

However, as the largest producer of uranium in Africa and the third largest in the world, “we cannot shy away from the prospect of generating nuclear energy, especially when our raw materials are fuelling nuclear plants around the world. Nuclear energy generation has become a serious option that we are pursuing vigorously,” said Mbuende.

National strategy

Namibia has already developed a national strategy covering the broader scope of the nuclear industry. This includes creating an appropriate governance structure, building institutions, developing human resources, and establishing project viability, leading to the commissioning of key nuclear projects, including nuclear power, he told the gathering of global leaders.

“We are committed to ensuring that every step we take in developing the sector is in full compliance with the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Mbuende said.

“We are excited by the advent of Small Modular Reactors, which are more flexible, safer and more economical. To the best of our knowledge, two such reactors have been in operation for a couple of years, and many more are at various stages of development in several countries and will come online in the near future. We are keen to learn from the pioneers in this field rather than trying to reinvent the wheel,” he added.

Namibia intends to develop the sector in close collaboration with those who have proven knowledge and experience, as well as financiers, according to the Director General. “We are committed to working with other African countries to share best practices, intending to overcome teething problems.”