Russia’s state-backed nuclear energy company, Rosatom, is positioning itself to become a key partner in the development and operation of Namibia’s first nuclear power plant, signaling a major step in Southern Africa’s evolving energy landscape.

While South Africa remains the only country in the region with an operational nuclear facility, Koeberg near Cape Town, and plans to expand its nuclear capacity by 2.5GW by 2030, Namibia is now preparing to enter the nuclear power arena with Rosatom’s support.

Sputnik Africa reports that Rosatom’s Central and Southern Africa CEO, Ryan Collyer, emphasized Namibia’s potential as a strategic partner in nuclear energy.

“We see Namibia as a highly promising partner in the field of nuclear energy… not only as a resource-rich nation, but also as a forward-thinking country with the potential to become a regional leader in low-carbon energy,” Collyer said.

The Namibian government, led by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, confirmed the country’s nuclear ambitions during the recent State of the Nation Address, highlighting plans to initiate discussions on building the first nuclear plant.

This initiative is driven by Namibia’s abundant uranium reserves, ranking third globally in production, and a desire to reduce its heavy reliance on electricity imports from South Africa.

Currently, Namibia relies largely on imported power, thanks to a special agreement allowing NamPower, Namibia’s national utility, to purchase surplus electricity from South Africa’s Eskom at affordable rates.

However, growing domestic demand and frequent supply interruptions have pushed Namibia to seek more sustainable and secure energy solutions.

According to the World Nuclear Association, Namibia’s uranium mining capacity could meet up to 10% of the global nuclear fuel demand.

Harnessing this resource through domestic nuclear power generation would mark a strategic shift toward energy self-sufficiency and long-term supply security, while also aligning with broader continental goals for clean energy transition.

Rosatom’s involvement would deepen Russia’s nuclear engagement across Africa, where it has already inked multiple cooperation agreements.

For Namibia, partnering with Rosatom represents not only a path to energy independence but also a foothold in the future of Southern Africa’s power infrastructure.

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