Patience Makwele
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani has thrown his weight behind the draft Nuclear Bill, saying Namibia should seize the opportunity to use its uranium resources to drive economic growth and strengthen energy security rather than continue exporting raw minerals.
His remarks come as the government concluded its nationwide public consultations on the proposed legislation, which seeks to modernise Namibia’s nuclear regulatory framework and establish institutions to oversee the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
“I have long been a strong proponent of Namibia utilising its uranium through nuclear power and I think this Bill reinforces that position,” Venaani told the Windhoek Observer.
He said the proposed law presents an opportunity for the country to debate how it can derive greater value from one of its most abundant natural resources.
“We should use our resources to benefit our people, energise our economy and ensure Namibians benefit through value addition instead of exporting raw materials,” he said.
The draft of the Nuclear Bill seeks to replace the Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act of 2005, which the government says no longer provides an adequate legal framework for regulating the country’s expanding use of nuclear technology.
The legislation proposes the establishment of three specialised institutions: the Nuclear Commission of Namibia, the Nuclear Institute of Namibia, and the Radiation and Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Namibia to oversee policy development, research, regulation and radiation safety.
Speaking during the final regional public consultation held in Khomas this week, Atomic Energy Board secretary Axel Tibinyane said the bill is intended to consolidate Namibia’s nuclear-related activities under a coordinated national framework.
He said nuclear technology is already being used in Namibia for medical diagnostics, cancer treatment, nuclear medicine, industrial applications, scientific research and infrastructure development, with several institutions currently playing different roles in the sector.
“As a small country, we should consolidate our resources and create institutions that serve a common purpose,” Tibinyane said.
The bill also proposes measures to strengthen governance of the sector, including establishing an independent regulatory authority responsible for licensing, inspections, emergency preparedness, and the safe transport and use of radioactive materials.
Khomas regional council chairperson Stephanus Ndengu described the legislation as an opportunity to build institutions that will guide Namibia’s emerging nuclear sector from the ground up.
“The nuclear sector is still young, and the institutions proposed in this Bill are being designed to meet the country’s future needs,” he said.
The Khomas consultation marked the conclusion of nationwide public engagements held across all 14 regions before the Bill is finalised and submitted for consideration by Cabinet and Parliament.
Namibia is the world’s third-largest producer of uranium with the mineral largely exported for processing abroad.
The proposed legislation forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen oversight of the nuclear sector and expand the peaceful use of nuclear technology in areas such as healthcare, research, agriculture, desalination and, potentially, future electricity generation.
