Omaheke uranium project launch set for 2029

Russia said it will begin uranium mining in Namibia by 2029 as part of a planned joint project expected to expand economic ties between the two countries significantly. Russian deputy prime minister Yury Trutnev said the project, which will involve the state nuclear corporation Rosatom, is being positioned as a cornerstone of future bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at the opening of the Russia–Namibia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Windhoek, Trutnev said the uranium development would “fundamentally change the nature of economic relations” between the two countries.

The project is expected to increase trade volumes to more than US$500 million annually, create around 600 jobs, and generate over US$3 billion in direct tax payments over the life of the mine. Rosatom is currently advancing the Wings uranium project in Namibia’s Omaheke Region, where exploration and development work are underway.

The project is expected to use in-situ leaching (ISL), a mining method that extracts uranium from underground without the need for large open pits. Trutnev said Russia is not limiting its ambitions to uranium mining alone, adding that discussions are also underway on nuclear energy and medical technologies. He said Rosatom has experience operating in more than 60 countries and has developed a range of nuclear solutions, including floating nuclear power plants.

The proposed development comes as Namibia continues to consolidate its position as a major global uranium producer. The planned 2029 start date places the project within Namibia’s broader push to expand its uranium sector, which has attracted increasing international interest as global demand for nuclear energy rises.