KEY POINTS
- Chinese Ambassador Zhao Weiping says Beijing supports Namibia’s right to develop nuclear energy.
- Namibia’s uranium sector hosts China’s single largest investment in Africa, worth $5 billion.
- Namibia is exploring nuclear power to cut electricity imports and secure long-term energy supply.
China is ready to back Namibia in building nuclear power plants, the Chinese ambassador said Wednesday, pointing to the country’s standing as one of the world’s largest uranium producers as a natural foundation for such a partnership.
Speaking at a media briefing in Windhoek, Ambassador Zhao Weiping said Beijing sees a compelling case for Namibia to develop nuclear energy domestically. “I personally think it is a good idea for Namibia to develop its own nuclear power projects,” Zhao said. “You are one of the largest uranium producers in the world, so it is understandable for Namibia to think about nuclear energy.”
Namibia’s energy gap and the nuclear option
Namibia imports a significant share of its electricity from neighboring countries, leaving it exposed to supply shortages and escalating costs. The government has been scouting new energy sources as it pushes to become a regional hub anchored by mining, green hydrogen and oil and gas. Nuclear power could give Namibia stable, locally generated electricity and cut import dependence, though such projects carry high upfront costs and require rigorous safety frameworks.
Zhao stressed the final call belongs to Namibia. “But if Namibia chooses to work with China on nuclear power projects, we will be very positive about that cooperation,” he said. China’s nuclear sector, he added, has grown rapidly. “Our nuclear power industry is becoming one of the biggest in the world, and we are open-minded about cooperation with Namibia.”
China’s deep footprint in Namibia’s uranium sector
Chinese investment in Namibia’s mining sector is concentrated overwhelmingly in uranium. The Husab Mine, owned by Swakop Uranium, stands as China’s single largest investment project across Africa at roughly $5 billion. The Rossing Uranium mine is another major operation in the country.
Zhao pushed back against the notion that Chinese capital dominates Namibia’s broader mining landscape. “People may have the impression that Chinese investments are everywhere in Namibia’s mining sector, but actually most investments are in the two uranium mines,” he said.
He acknowledged uranium’s complexity as a commodity. Full in-country processing is harder to achieve than with conventional minerals given the material’s regulated nature, he noted. China, he said, supports Namibia’s push to increase value addition and industrialization across its resource base.
A Chinese company recently acquired a gold mine in Namibia, Zhao said, marking a limited expansion beyond uranium. The Chinese-linked Tsumeb smelter project has reportedly slowed, he added.
