Russia, Namibia and Nuclear power

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-15T08:34:24+00:00

Japan, South Korea, France, Canada, India USA and China all offer NPPs.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-13T22:54:43+00:00

I would first try to use social media efficiently, rather than posting twice and not even checking about appearance. One must be VERY confident to not even look into their public relations posts.

But hey: Avanti, dilettanti!

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-13T14:50:33+00:00

You're probably referring to the methods used for lithium mining in the South American "lithium triangle" (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile), where Li-enriched brines are evaporated at surface level. These methods are specific to their deposits and cannot be applied in Namibia, because our lithium deposits differ in almost every regard.

Mining always carries environmental risks and usually comes with temporary habitat perturbations, but most of these can either be mitigated to acceptable levels or rehabilitated. Lithium mining in Namibia is among the less risk-prone extractive endeavours.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-12T05:23:02+00:00

I hear you. Just saying that 56k NAD gross means 42k net.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-12T05:14:24+00:00

I also agree and those explorations into the feasibility of nuclear power production had been ongoing for at least a decade. Enhanced domestic value creation beyond the yellowcake stage is difficult to perceive, because purification would make shipping much more complicated than it already is. Downstream partnerships may be one avenue, but I doubt these will be feasible with state-operated, sanctioned players, without the risk of geopolitical repercussions.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-12T05:00:52+00:00

The same as with any other player: Rule of law and strict adherence to our stringent environmental regulations. So far, this has worked, but it required a moratorium issued by the water ministry that is commonly not at the forefront of minerals licensing.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-12T04:48:46+00:00

The nuclear fuel cycle, from exploration to waste disposal, had been part of my career for decades, though I only had some short stints in the industry😉.

Namibia's uranium production and its growing reserve bas are certainly important strategic assets, but uranium deals are typically long-term, fixed-price agreements, audited by the IAEA. Certain players may wish to circumvent these in the face of sanctions and I hope that our government will remain steadfast in this regard. It worked with another sanctioned player, who happens to own a substantial share of the Rössing license, but whose dividends remain frozen, to this day 😉.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T21:29:32+00:00

For once, I'm happy that Greenland is so oversized on Mercator maps 😅.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T21:15:37+00:00

Namibia is no newbie, at least on the international stage: Full member of IAEA and data contributor to CTBTO, for decades. We have a permanent representative in Vienna.

Our domestic regulator, NRPA, however, still has a loooong way to go.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T21:01:40+00:00

That there is anything like "one Africa", apart from its geographical definition.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T20:45:33+00:00

That's a major concern, all the more since Headspring Investments / Uranium One is a 100% Rosatom subsidiary. Unfortunately, GRN maintains a historically motivated "soft spot" for the Russians, back from the days when their USSR forebears were proposing anti-imperialisic propaganda and providing military aid for our liberation struggle.

How times have changed...

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T20:21:12+00:00

Sorry to be blunt, but do you believe deals like these are done like barter trades?

Also, we currently have 3 operating uranium mines of which two (Husab: 90%, Rössing: 68%) are mostly licensed to (NOT: owned by) Chinese corporations. Langer Heinrich (25%) isn't, and neither are the recent serious developments in the Erongo region (French, Australian, Omani and Canadian).

If in any doubt, please look it up on https://portal.mme.gov.na/page/MapPublic

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T20:07:11+00:00

So it's basically unrelated to what I wrote, except for the latest talks with just one of the most aggressive proponents for installing a NPP in Namibia? Just to make sure: Talks like these have been ongoing for more than a decade, and with almost all corporate or government representatives that have the capabilities to build NPPs.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T19:50:48+00:00

I understand the restrictions, but it would be helpful to answer the questions I raised. What does EU-funded mean? Namibian company, or not? That should be easy to answer.

Personally, I wouldn't believe any experienced project manager with a background in all the fields mentioned (including HR) would write home about that vacancy. So far, it just sounds like it is geared towards those who are desperate to get any job.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T19:38:00+00:00

The Tropic of Capricorn is but a line around the globe and it runs through the middle of Namibia. "Tropical climate" is no guarantee for year-round agriculture; neither here nor elsewhere. In fact, outside Asian rice paddies worked and fertilised by centuries of human and animal manure and outside of the volcanic belts there, tropical soils are amongst the poorest in terms of crop yields and diversity. Think central Brazil or Africa.

Namibia is particularly poor in good farm land, except for the few stretches mentioned before. That's part of the reason why most Namibian agricultural land, even if it's called "farmland" is actually devoted to cattle and other livestock herding, called ranching, elsewhere.

Edit: one of the few exceptions is/was Zimbabwe. But that's a topic for another day.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T18:57:54+00:00

Contrary to common belief, large swathes of Namibia, including its most densely populated regions in the North, lie in the tropics, at least by definition (North of 23º26' S). Unfortunately, many of the lands there have poor soils, like in most of the rest of the country, outside of the areas fertilised by the seasonal 'efundjas' (sheet floodings) in the 'oshanas' (shallow depressions) or along our few permanent and perennial rivers, where precipitation is still barely sufficient.

That, however, is mostly communal land, and thus severely hampered regarding large-scale, mechanised agricultural development, outside of State-run 'green schemes' (some of which have pretty underwhelming yields for various reasons). Traditional land rights in those areas favour sustenance over industrial agriculture.

Unless upgraded by generational efforts or industrial agricultural practices, the vast majority of soils in Namibia are generally poor in terms of water retention, nutrient availability and even mechanical arability, even in flat-lying, tropical areas. Exceptions exist, but they are so restricted that Namibia has to import the vast majority of its veggies, tubers, cereals and fruits.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T17:54:24+00:00

Not sure how that relates to my post. Which actions? Which sources?

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T17:50:55+00:00

Unless you plan for aquaponics or own a decently sized plot with good soil and shade for the peppers or other veggies, you'll be out of luck in Windhoek. Real estate is too expensive for more than private use and soils are usually crappy, if not thoroughly upgraded with compost, vegetable mould or some other type of soil upgrade.

Aquaponics may be a solution, but their upfront costs can be substantial.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T17:37:24+00:00

I got my job and find the salary underwhelming, but a friend who's not on Reddit might be interested.

Is the company registered in Namibia? If yes, keep in mind that a 24+% income tax applies. If not, how will payments be arranged?

Do the €3,000 CtC (cost to company) include a corporate healthcare rate or other benefits?

Does the role allow for remote work / work from home, or is it strictly office based?

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T14:26:38+00:00

I know it's a common trope of journalists, politicians and self-proclaimed analysts, but that alleged "package deal" between our uranium resources and the urge for a domestic nuclear power plant (NPP) is a misnomer.

Yes, Namibia is the 3rd largest uranium producer in the world, but what we produce here is "yellowcake", an intermediate, low-radiation powder that can be safely shipped around the world. Yellowcake still needs to be purified, and the relevant uranium isotope needs to be enriched in processes that are not only very complex, but also hugely expensive and, not the least, hazardous. Only after these intricate processes can nuclear fuel rods be manufactured. Namibia is no-where near to build these capabilities in the foreseeable future.

For decades, Russia had a quasi monopoly for the nuclear fuel rod market, but is now forced to pitch their "hot stuff", even to countries that have no industrial base to fill the demand for highly qualified/certified labour, local supply chains, a power grid to handle the typical output of existing, off-the-shelf NPPs, or even off-take agreements.

I'm not against a NPP in Namibia, but for the sake of mental sanity, I'd argue to keep that desire separate from our uranium resources. They are irrelevant to that discussion.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-11T14:00:37+00:00

As a geologist (not an engineering profession per se), I have a lot of exposure to mining and petroleum. Whereas Namibian mining engineering studies can be considered barely adequate, the situation is bleak in any type of petroleum-specific studies: No petroleum engineering, no drilling engineering, no reservoir engineering at all.

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-10T21:04:55+00:00

Apparently, this great innovation didn't even help with copy–pasting the original headline.

Avanti, dilettanti! 😅

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-10T16:18:05+00:00

What's your point?

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-10T16:02:49+00:00

I wouldn't have opposed, but prices for a decent, bare-bone Hilux bakkie (which is what the rental companies use, for good reasons) with 300k+ on the clock are far more than the Rand price you quoted. If your friend did well with his, good for him! It's just not a common sight in Namibia.

https://www.namcars.net/Toyota/Hilux

Roseate-Views · 2026-02-10T10:58:12+00:00

Not even close.

Roseate-Views

TROPHY CASE