… For years, Namibia’s only main desalination plant was owned by French state-owned entity Orano, formerly Areva. …
Govt gets 30% in desalination plant while Chinese state-owned giant gets 70%Namibia Minute.
Monday, 11 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 11 May 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Organization
Orano
Also known as: Areva
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- March 2026
- February 2026
… In 2010, a French company, Areva, completed a feasibility assessment for nuclear power production linked to its Trekkopje project. …
Namibia should target uranium conversion plant… The engagement forms part of NamWater’s request for land north of the existing Orano desalination plant along the C34 road for the construction of the second desalination plant. …
N$2.1b desalination plant …NamWater 30%, Swakop Uranium 70%… In 2010, French company Areva conducted a feasibility study for nuclear power generation as part of its Trekkopje project. …
Namibia’s Nuclear Power Ambitions Offer Path to Energy Independence… In 2010, French company Areva conducted a feasibility study for nuclear power generation as part of its Trekkopje project. …
Namibia’s nuclear power ambitions offer path to energy security… The country’s mining sector is already trusted by major international companies , including De Beers Group, B2Gold, Orano and CNNC. …
Namibia showcased at Mining Indaba… Niger’s military government has seized control of the country’s main uranium mine from the longstanding French operator, Orano, and is now lining up Russia as its new partner in the sector. …
Three West African juntas have turned to Russia. Now the US wants to engage them- August 2025
… The uranium-mining operation operated by French nuclear group Orano was nationalised in June, which cleared the way for Russia to put itself forward as a new partner. …
Russia outsmarts France with nuclear power move in Niger- November 2023
… According to Oxfam, in 2010 two subsidiaries of state-controlled nuclear group Areva (now part of Orano) extracted 114 346 metric tonnes of uranium in Niger with an export value of more than €3,5 billion, of which only 13% (around €459 million) was paid to Niger. …
Niger’s Colonial-Style Resource Curse- October 2022
… It’s been so bad that president Hage Geingob, prior to taking office, was implicated in a scheme of receiving kickbacks involving French nuclear giant Areva. …
Stop The Corruption in Mining
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Political backlash over Chinese majority stake in desalination plant
The News
Opposition MPs and analysts have criticized the government's agreement to give China General Nuclear Power Group a 70% controlling stake in a N$3-billion coastal desalination plant while the state retains only 30%, raising concerns about water sovereignty and affordability for poor Namibians. NamWater and Swakop Uranium defended the joint venture structure as necessary to finance critical infrastructure while maintaining public sector participation.
15 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Sunday 15 March
Political backlash over Chinese majority stake in desalination plant
Opposition MPs and analysts have criticized the government's agreement to give China General Nuclear Power Group a 70% controlling stake in a N$3-billion coastal desalination plant while the state retains only 30%, raising concerns about water sovereignty and affordability for poor Namibians. NamWater and Swakop Uranium defended the joint venture structure as necessary to finance critical infrastructure while maintaining public sector participation.
15 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 26 February
Namibia should pursue uranium conversion facility first
Bannerman Energy's project chief Gavin Chamberlain has advised Namibia to target investment in a uranium conversion facility as the most realistic next step in value addition, though he warns that such a facility would require extremely high uranium volumes to be economically viable and would face contractual hurdles from international utilities that currently dictate delivery destinations under existing contracts.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 20 February
N$2.1bn desalination plant planned in Erongo region
NamWater and Swakop Uranium will jointly develop a new desalination plant in Erongo, with the government holding a 30% stake and the uranium miner 70%, at a cost of N$2.1 billion based on a 2021 feasibility study. Construction is expected to begin in June 2026 and be completed by mid-2028, adding 20 million cubic metres of water annually to meet growing demand from the mining sector.
20 February 2026 · New Era →
Friday 13 February
Namibia pursues nuclear power to achieve energy independence
Namibia, the world's third-largest uranium producer, is advancing nuclear power plans to reduce energy imports and meet growing demand. President Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced plans for the country's first nuclear power plant with support from Rosatom and China, though the project faces challenges including high capital costs and limited technical expertise.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 12 February
Namibia pursues nuclear power to boost energy security
As the world's third-largest uranium producer, Namibia is advancing plans for its first nuclear power plant to reduce reliance on imported electricity and support its Vision 2030 development goals, backed by international partnerships with Russia and China. The project faces significant capital costs and requires imported technical expertise, but recent cabinet approval of Namibia's Nuclear Industry Strategy signals sustained government commitment.
12 February 2026 · New Era →
Saturday 7 February
Namibia to showcase mining opportunities at 2026 Indaba
Namibia will participate in the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town in February to attract investors and development partners to its mining sector. The country will host two investment-focused sessions highlighting its stable mining environment, mineral resources including uranium and diamonds, and projects seeking support for exploration, processing and value addition.
7 February 2026 · New Era →
Monday 2 February
US shifts policy toward West African juntas aligned with Russia
The Trump administration is signalling a new approach to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—military-run states that have expelled France and turned to Russia for defence support. The US is prioritizing security cooperation and counter-terrorism over previous concerns about democracy and human rights, and aims to balance Russian influence in the region through intelligence and weapons support.
2 February 2026 · The Namibian →