Nuclear power option on the table in Namibia

Namibia’s minister of mines and energy Isak Katali said that, along with a host of renewable and non-renewable power sources, a nuclear power station in Namibia would help southern Africa address the inadequate supply of power that has plagued the region.

Speaking at the Electricity Supply Industry Stakeholders Forum in Rundu, Katali commented, “I am not saying we will have a nuclear plant; all I am saying is that government through our ministry and the electricity supply industry are looking at all power sources, among them, wind energy, hydro and coal-fired stations, a solar thermal collector and the possibility of a nuclear power station in the future.”

Despite fierce public opposition to nuclear power, Katali said that the Ministry of Mines and Energy had finalised a nuclear cycle policy that would look at ways in which Namibia could safely harness nuclear power as a means of addressing the country’s energy needs.

Katali confirmed that national power utility NamPower planned to build eight more power stations in the country to reduce Namibia’s dependence on power generation-related imports.