Climate Journalism
Namibia’s Uranium Riches. Caught Between Home Politics And Business Deals With Russia And China But At A Huge Cost For Citizens – Water!
Namibia, known for its vast desert region and rich natural resources, is now at the center of a global scramble for uranium. This Southern African nation holds some of the world’s largest untapped uranium reserves, catching the keen eyes of major players like Russia and China.
However, the allure of economic prosperity comes with a hefty price tag, one that threatens both the environment and the livelihoods of thousands of Namibians.
At the forefront of this uranium rush is Russia’s state-owned nuclear giant, Rosatom. Their ambitions are focused on the uranium-rich region of Leonardville, where their subsidiary, Headspring Investments, has proposed a controversial mining method known as in-situ leaching.
This technique involves injecting a solution—typically sulphuric acid—directly into the ground to dissolve and extract uranium. While efficient, it raises serious red flags due to the proximity of vital aquifers.
A Ticking Environmental Time Bomb?
Namibia is no stranger to water scarcity. The country’s dependency on underground aquifers for drinking water and agriculture has only deepened as climate change aggravates drought conditions. In a place where every drop counts, the idea of injecting chemicals into precious groundwater sources is alarming.
Even Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, voiced his concerns in a sharp warning to the National Assembly stating the potential for water contamination to affect not only Namibia but also neighboring South Africa and Botswana, calling it a threat to the region’s entire economic stability.
The Local Outcry
The pushback isn’t just coming from environmentalists. Local farmers and residents, already feeling the heat of a changing climate, fear the worst. For them, uranium mining isn’t just a distant corporate endeavor—it’s a direct threat to their way of life.
“I depend on this land to grow food for my family,” says Impo, a schoolteacher who also farms. “If the water is polluted, how will we survive?”
This fear has mobilized local landowners to campaign against the mine, urging the government to weigh the long-term consequences over short-term gains. Despite the economic promise, the risk of contaminating water sources could decimate the region’s agricultural backbone, leaving the land barren and the people destitute.
Russia’s Relentless Pursuit
Rosatom’s ambitions were dealt a major blow in November 2021 when Namibia cancelled its drilling permits due to non-compliance with licensing terms. Yet, the Russian giant did not retreat. Instead, they intensified their efforts, investing in local infrastructure and launching public relations campaigns to sway opinions in Leonardville.
For Rosatom, this isn’t just about uranium—it’s about geopolitical influence in Africa. By securing uranium supply lines, Russia bolsters its nuclear energy sector while expanding its strategic footprint on the continent. But for Namibia, the stakes are much higher – balancing foreign investment with the preservation of its fragile ecosystem and local livelihoods.
Politics
Rosatom’s influence goes beyond mining operations. By sponsoring trips to Russia and providing donations, it has established a significant presence in Namibia’s political and social spheres.
In April, Rosatom invited Kalumbi Shangula, Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services, to attend Atomexpo 2024 in Sochi, Russia, where he addressed the country’s rising cancer rates. Prior to this, a Rosatom subsidiary, Uranium One, donated a four-wheel drive vehicle to Namibia’s health ministry, ostensibly to aid in health service delivery.
The Governor of Omaheke, Pijoo Nganate, has also made several trips to Russia, some funded by Rosatom. While initially hesitant to disclose the sponsorship details, Nganate later emphasized that it was Namibia’s ministries requesting aid, citing the dire unemployment and poverty levels in the region. Indeed, Omaheke’s poverty rate stands at a staggering 51%, with Leonardville bearing the brunt of this hardship.
Yet, this growing alignment with Rosatom has fueled criticism, with detractors accusing the company of stoking racial tensions. The divide between predominantly white landowners, who control 70% of Namibia’s agricultural land, and the majority Black population struggling for economic footing, underscores the socio-political complexities at play.
Leonardville, A Poor Village at a Crossroads
Leonardville paints a picture of contrast—dusty roads, makeshift homes, and communities battling poverty. Unemployment is rampant, and the lack of basic services has left residents vulnerable. Ambulances ceased serving the village due to high costs, and police vehicles, battered by the harsh terrain, remain unreplaced. As domestic violence and crime rise, the community’s desperation grows.
For residents the promise of uranium mining offers a glimmer of hope. With food prices skyrocketing and malnutrition claiming hundreds of lives in Omaheke since 2022, many see mining as a potential lifeline. They believe that the jobs and infrastructure tied to the mine could finally bring relief to the struggling village.
Rosatom’s Dual Game
In an effort to address local hunger, Rosatom funded a new kitchen at Noasanabis Primary School, investing over 400,000 Namibian dollars annually to feed more than 600 children.
The project, launched in May, brought together the community in gratitude, with school choirs singing praise. However, this initiative overshadowed local efforts, at school vegetable garden, which once supplemented students’ diets. Now, with the school’s reliance on Rosatom’s kitchen, such grassroots projects are fading into obscurity.
While many villagers see the new kitchen as a step forward, others remain wary of the cost. The planned uranium mine threatens to drill into a crucial aquifer that sustains not only Namibia but also neighboring countries. Any contamination could cripple agriculture, leaving the region’s future hanging in the balance.
Leonardville’s uranium dream has been 14 years in the making. For a community plagued by poverty, the prospect of mining offers hope for economic revitalization. Yet, the potential environmental cost could be catastrophic. Without clean water, the very lifeline that sustains the region’s people and wildlife may be severed.
A History of Controversy
In 2010, Russia’s then-President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a significant diplomatic visit to Namibia, marking the beginning of a partnership aimed at exploring the country’s rich uranium reserves. The head of Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, announced plans to invest up to $1 billion in Namibian uranium, signaling the start of a major push into the African mining sector.
That same year, Rosatom’s subsidiary, Headspring, secured eight exclusive prospecting licenses (EPLs) for uranium exploration in Namibia. By 2011, Headspring had started setting up water testing facilities across farms in Leonardville and conducted extensive drilling, with over 600 exploration boreholes and 36 water monitoring boreholes drilled across 39 farms. This ambitious project was expected to unfold over 15 to 25 years, raising concerns among locals about its long-term impact on the region’s delicate water supply.
Shifting Policies and Alleged Corruption
The uranium exploration licenses were initially suspended due to a nationwide 10-year ban on uranium mining. However, in 2017, the Namibian government lifted the ban, reopening the door for uranium mining. At this point, the government extended Headspring’s licenses to cover nuclear fuel materials, allowing the company to begin drilling for uranium in earnest.
One official involved in approving the licenses, Mines Commissioner Erasmus Shivolo, came under scrutiny in 2022 when allegations surfaced that he had accepted a bribe of 50 million Namibian dollars ($2.8 million) from a Chinese mining company, Xinfeng Investments.
While Shivolo resigned from his post, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, opted not to fire him but instead reassigned him to another role within the ministry. Alweendo denied any prior knowledge of the bribe.
A Disputed Project and Growing Opposition
As Headspring continued its exploration efforts, it discovered a significant uranium deposit beneath the aquifer in Leonardville, which appeared to be suitable for in-situ leaching—a mining technique that involves injecting a weak sulfuric acid solution into the ground to extract the uranium.
The next step would have required additional drilling, but before that could happen, Headspring faced challenges securing the necessary Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from an accredited consultancy. After approaching two firms, both walked away from the process, citing “irreconcilable differences” with Headspring.
As the situation unfolded, local farmers in Leonardville began to rally against the project, voicing concerns over the potential environmental impacts, particularly on the aquifer.
The government soon took action. In November 2021, former Agriculture Executive Director Percy Misika sent a formal letter to Headspring, informing the company that two of its mining permits were being cancelled due to “egregious carelessness” and non-compliance with permit conditions.
Misika’s letter pointed out that, despite the absence of active mining, the company had violated conditions related to proper sealing and grouting of boreholes, posing significant environmental risks. In a later speech to the Namibian National Assembly, Agriculture Minister Calle Schlettwein condemned Headspring’s actions, stating, “The number of boreholes drilled has ignored the license conditions of proper sealing and grouting, endangering the region’s water supply.”
The Political and Environmental Crossroads
Rosatom’s uranium ambitions in Namibia, known as Project Wings, are now at a critical juncture. The company needs approval from three Namibian government agencies to reinstate its mining licenses and resume drilling. While the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism have not opposed the plan, the Ministry for Agriculture, Water and Land Reform remains a key holdout, citing concerns over the long-term impact on water resources.
Agriculture Minister Calle Schlettwein has been outspoken in his opposition to the project, stating, “At the end of the day, we cannot survive without water and food, but we can live without coal or uranium.” This sentiment reflects the growing divide between economic interests and the environmental needs of Namibians, particularly in regions where water scarcity is a pressing concern.
The outcome of the licensing dispute now rests with the next Namibian government, following the November 27 elections. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the candidate from the ruling Swapo party, is widely expected to win. However, despite the party’s long-standing ties with Russia dating back to Soviet support during Namibia’s fight for independence, Nandi-Ndaitwah has not yet publicly commented on the controversy.
Global Nuclear Fuel Supply Chains and Russia’s Expanding Influence
In 2021, Namibia became the world’s second-largest producer of uranium, trailing only Kazakhstan, a longstanding Russian ally. With the closure of the Arlit uranium mine in Niger, especially after a coup led by Russian-aligned military rulers, Namibia’s uranium has grown even more significant as a key source of nuclear fuel on the African continent.
This dominance in the nuclear fuel supply chain comes at a time when many countries are increasingly turning to nuclear energy to meet their energy needs.
In response to the energy crisis spurred by the war in Ukraine, many European nations have ramped up investments in nuclear power to reduce their reliance on Russian natural gas. On May 13, 2022, the UK established a fund to build eight new nuclear reactors by 2030, and the European Parliament voted on July 6 to classify nuclear energy as a green source of energy.
However, energy analysts caution that these efforts to transition to nuclear power could inadvertently deepen reliance on a nuclear supply chain that is overwhelmingly controlled by Russian state-owned enterprises. As James Acton, a nuclear expert at the Carnegie Energy Institute, remarked in 2023, “The process of weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels has left Europe particularly reliant on Russian nuclear exports.”
In the United States, Russian-enriched uranium still accounts for about 35% of the nuclear fuel used in US reactors. While President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill in May 2022 banning Russian uranium imports, there are concerns that US utilities could face significant challenges in maintaining the operation of nuclear plants if this supply were cut off. Darya Dolzikova, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, warned in March that “US utilities may struggle to keep nuclear power plants operating should Russian enriched uranium supply be cut off.”
As of November 15, 2023, Russia began throttling its exports of enriched uranium to US nuclear plants in response to international sanctions, underscoring the leverage Rosatom holds over global nuclear fuel supplies.
At the helm of Rosatom is Sergey Kirienko, a former Russian prime minister who has publicly admitted to orchestrating Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories, and who is also believed to have facilitated the supply of military equipment to Russia’s armed forces. Namibia, alongside many other African nations, abstained from a UN vote condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.
Simultaneously, Russia has expanded its nuclear cooperation with various nations, including China, India, Iran, and Bangladesh. It has also signed nuclear agreements with countries such as Zimbabwe, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Brazil. In Turkey, Russia has pioneered a “build-to-own” model, where it finances and builds nuclear reactors abroad and eventually owns them, selling the electricity back to the host country.
As part of this growing influence, Rosatom has indicated that Namibian uranium could be used in Turkish nuclear plants once the proposed Leonardville mine is developed.
Since the suspension of its drilling license in Namibia, Rosatom has announced plans to fund the construction of a nuclear power plant in Namibia. This development could mark a significant shift: it would be the first instance of an African country’s nuclear supply chain being fully controlled by the Russian state—from the initial extraction of uranium to the handling of spent fuel rods at the reactor.
In April, Ryan Collyer, Rosatom’s chief executive for Central and Southern Africa, visited South Africa, home to Africa’s only nuclear reactor, the Koeberg plant in Cape Town. Collyer encouraged South Africa to embrace nuclear energy as part of its energy future, signaling Russia’s ongoing efforts to expand its nuclear influence across Africa and beyond.
China’s Growing Influence in Namibia’s Uranium Sector
While Russia is vying for control of global nuclear fuel supply chains, China has also set its sights on Namibia’s uranium resources. Located in the Namib Desert, near the coastal town of Arandis and about 70 km (43.5 miles) from Swakopmund, Rossing is Namibia’s largest open-pit uranium mine.
In recent years, the China National Uranium Corporation (CNNC) has become a major player, acquiring 69% of Rossing’s shares from Rio Tinto in 2018. Iran has also owned a 15% stake in the mine since 1976.
Since the Chinese acquisition, workers at Rossing have reported significant job losses, with local employees being replaced by contractors. These workers are easier to hire and fire and come without additional benefits, such as pension contributions. CNNC also owns the nearby Husab mine, located just 5 km (3 miles) south of Rossing, which is expected to surpass Rossing in uranium production in the coming years.
Former Rossing employees have accused CNNC of employing “union-busting” tactics at its uranium facilities in Namibia. They claim that CNNC fired the entire Rossing branch of the Miners Union of Namibia (MUN) after workers protested the erosion of health and safety standards. CNNC did not respond to requests for comment.
As the mine’s operations continue, concerns about uranium contamination in nearby communities are on the rise. In Swakopmund, Namibia’s second-largest city, with a population of 75,921, residents are fearful of potential contamination from the local groundwater. The city, just 66 km (41 miles) from the CNNC mine, is known for having high levels of PM2.5 particulate matter, a known carcinogen.
As cancer rates climb, some Swakopmund residents have gone so far as to install multiple water filters to reduce their exposure to potentially hazardous substances.
In an effort to test for uranium in Swakopmund’s tap water, a worker set up a filtration system over several months, aiming to capture uranium as it entered homes from the water supply. However, when the worker sent the filter for analysis, the lab refused to conduct the tests due to concerns over radiation risks. The lab reported, “The filter system, as submitted by your company, set off the radiation alarm,” and declined to examine it, citing the danger to their staff.
At a June 17 presentation, Kuiri Tjipangandjara, chair of the Water Solutions Group—a coalition of public and private companies working to bolster Africa’s resilience to drought—revealed contamination data from Headspring, another uranium mining company in the region. His findings showed that 3-4 out of 10 boreholes sampled contained dissolved uranium, with radionuclide levels exceeding acceptable limits.
Interestingly, tests also revealed high uranium levels in areas where no mining activity had been reported, complicating efforts to pin contamination on specific sources.
Tjipangandjara cautioned against allowing companies like Headspring to monitor water levels, arguing that it posed a serious conflict of interest, likening it to a football player being a referee.
Back in Leonardville, tensions between SAUMA (the local farming association) and many villagers continue to grow, exacerbated by the ongoing drought. With grazing land vanishing and crops withering, farmers are watching in despair as the drought continues to claim both livestock and livelihoods. “It’s horrific,” said a representative from SAUMA. “This [drought] tops all of them. The little water that we had has gone by now.”
For many residents, however, the prospect of escaping poverty through uranium mining is seen as a necessary risk—despite the potential consequences for the region’s vital aquifer, which sustains life in Leonardville.
Amid growing concerns over environmental violations and non-compliance with licensing regulations, the future of Namibia’s uranium industry remains uncertain. With the country’s water security and long-term sustainability at stake, the coming years could determine the fate of Namibia’s most valuable natural resource-water!
