User:Katura Martin

Namibia to build a Nuclear Power Plant
Namibia is one of the SADC countries which it is richly distributed with natural resources; Namibia has rich uranium resources enough to develop a nuclear power plant that would fuel economic development in the world's fourth-largest uranium producer. It is well known for its largest production of uranium, and in fact it is the fourth biggest uranium producer in the world.

The government nuclear plans has thought the idea of acquiring a nuclear power plant of its own .Rio Tinto and Australian miner Paladin Energy currently produce Namibia’s uranium. It is the spoken decision of the Namibian government to seriously consider the development of nuclear power in order to complete the national energy mix and provide sufficient energy for our development,”Katali said during the country's first-ever stakeholder meeting. The idea of generating its own nuclear power started in the year 2008 and will be set and running probably by the year 2018. The government has predicted the estimated cost for the whole project to be 17 billon.

The Namibian government through the 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.

A new directive to organize and encourage the development of nuclear energy in Africa is set to become fully operational after key founding documents were finalized and adopted. South Africa has agreed to host the commission in PretoriaShivolo presented a rough outline of the new nuclear policy that included sections on setting up a nuclear waste management fund, increasing black Namibians' participation in the uranium sector and limiting the use of the country's uranium to peaceful purposes. Namibia produced 4,626 tons of uranium in 2009, making it the world's fourth-largest producer, according to the World Nuclear Association. The government put a moratorium on issuing uranium exploration licences in 2007 because it did not have a nuclear policy in place. Four uranium companies currently hold uranium mining licences, two mines are operational and two new mines are under construction, including one being developed by French energy giant Areva that plans to start production next year. Namibia's uranium deposits have drawn growing interest from France, Russia and other countries amid reviving global enthusiasm for nuclear power. But Namibia has no nuclear power of its own and relies on imports from neighboring South Africa for about half its electricity

Areva
French state-owned Areva’s Trekkopje project in 2010 received its Export Processing Zone (EPZ) license for a period of five years after Areva reportedly agreed to develop a feasibility study on generating nuclear power in Namibia. Areva said it’s not only focusing to provide energy to Namibia but also to other countries. The government had reconsidered to grant Areva a license to develop a nuclear power plant in Namibia after its first application was decline in the year 2007.

The global concern
Namibia’s nuclear efforts in getting nuclear power have concerned the attention of the global non-proliferation community. The White House Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) is observing the events in Namibia, concerned that Namibian uranium might fall into the wrong hands.

Legislation and regulatory framework
The nuclear energy regulatory framework is necessary to provide assurance that the activities are carried out in a controlled environment. The government of Namibia is stanch to develop a legislative and regulatory framework for the control of all nuclear fuel cycle activities.in addition to legislative and regulatory framework, the following international legal instruments are significant tools that promote safety and security.


 * IAEA Vienna Convention as amended by the 1997 Protocol
 * To join the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism as a partner nation
 * Agreement with the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons 15
 * Model Protocol Additional to the Safeguards Agreement
 * Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities
 * Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident
 * Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
 * Convention on Nuclear Safety
 * Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
 * Vienna Convention on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage & Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage
 * African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty ( Pelindaba Treaty)
 * Assistance in the case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency,
 * Convention on Nuclear Safety,
 * Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Radioactive Waste Management
 * Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,
 * Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents
 * Vienna Convention on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage & Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage to strengthen the nuclear safety and security regime Namibia assumes to assent to, and meet its local and international obligations in admiration of the above treaties and conventions.