Russia's Rosatom Highlights Opportunities at Namibian Nuclear Conference
10:47 30.10.2024 (Updated: 17:40 30.10.2024)
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Namibia boasts vast uranium reserves, ranking as the world's second-largest producer. Uranium is a key pillar of Namibia's economy, declared a "strategic" resource by the government in 2011.
Representatives of the Russian state corporation Rosatom took part in the business program of the II Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology, which took place in Namibia on October 23-25.
"The conference, I believe, was a great success. [...] Really, we see this as a starting point of something that could be monumentous for the economy and the people of Namibia. I think we've clearly seen an ambition to pursue nuclear both in terms of science and innovation as well as electricity," Ryan Collier, Rosatom CEO in Central and South Africa, told Sputnik Africa.
He also emphasized that Namibia, as one of the world's largest uranium producers, offers significant opportunities in nuclear sector, also expressing Rosatom's commitment to supporting the country.
The conference highlighted the importance of efficient uranium mining for the continent’s economic development. According to Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, the mining sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP has increased from 11.9% in 2022 to 14.4% in 2023, with local procurement exceeding N$21 billion (US$1.2 billion).
