New nuclear law discussions

Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Services, has begun a series of public consultations on the proposed draft Nuclear Bill, which will continue tomorrow (Wednesday 8 July 2026) in Opuwo and Nkurenkuru, at the regional office conference hall and the Nkurenkuru town council hall, respectively.Consultations have already been held in Gobabis, Mariental, Otjiwarongo, Keetmanshoop, Omuthiya, Swakopmund and Eenhana.On Thursday, consultations will continue in Rundu at the government hall, and on Friday in Outapi at the regional council hall. Oshakati is scheduled for 13 July at the Oshana Regional Council offices, while consultations in Katima Mulilo will also take place on the same day at Kamunu Village, Greenwell. The final consultation in Windhoek is scheduled for 17 July, although the venue has yet to be confirmed.Comments, inputs and recommendations may be submitted by email to aerpr@mhss.gov.na before Friday 31 July 2026. The bill can be downloaded at q.my.na/OB52.Among those who attended, Wallace Finnies from Gobabis praised the government and expressed confidence that “this consultative approach will contribute to a well-informed and balanced legislative framework for the responsible use of nuclear technology in Namibia”.Nobel Eiaseb of the Association of Young Generation in Nuclear Namibia (Namygn) and the Nuclear is Clean Energy Club of Namibia (NiCE Club Namibia) also supports the nationwide consultations, calling them a “historic opportunity for all Namibians, especially young people, students, professionals, academia, industry, civil society and local communities, to contribute to the development of a modern, safe, secure and sustainable nuclear legislative framework”.He said: “The future of Namibia's nuclear sector should be built with the participation of all Namibians.”The bill proposes the establishment of the Nuclear Commission of Namibia, as well as the Nuclear Institute of Namibia and the Radiation and Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Namibia.Independent body recommendedIt would replace the Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act of 2005 and establish an independent commission to advise government, recommend related laws, policies and standards for implementation by the minister, and supervise, fund and support both the institute and the authority.The seven commissioners, including three nuclear experts, a legal expert, and experts in environmental protection, economics or business, and international cooperation, would appoint a director-general as accounting officer. The director-general would be responsible for staff appointments and for carrying out the commission’s functions, and would also appoint staff to the institute and the authority.The institute would exercise technical and scientific functions, including research, applications and technology controls, human resource development, laboratory and nuclear services provision, and technical cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It would also oversee nuclear projects planned for Namibia.The authority would regulate authorisations, compliance, enforcement and corrective action in respect of nuclear developments across Namibia. Mining of nuclear-related material would also require authorisation.The authority would safeguard agreements with the IAEA, establish state and national systems for the control and registration of nuclear activities, as well as the import and export of nuclear materials. It would maintain a national register of radiation sources, plan for emergencies, and oversee the decommissioning of plants and the transport of nuclear waste and materials. It would also be responsible for protecting human health and the environment from radiation.Eiaseb was recently announced as a winner of Rosatom’s Atoms Empowering Africa video contest at the fourth Obninsk NEW-2026 International Youth Forum in Obninsk, Russia. More than 700 participants from 85 countries took part in the event, which focused on building a skilled workforce for the global nuclear power industry.He said he strongly believes that “nuclear technologies can play a transformative role in addressing energy security, climate resilience, education and industrial development across the continent”.

New nuclear law discussions

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-07

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New nuclear law discussions

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-07

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