Namibia is set to apply for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus announced on Thursday.
The Cabinet approved the move earlier this week, marking a significant step toward Namibia’s increased participation in the global nuclear governance framework. The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation will spearhead the application process, including the revision and submission of the country’s dossier. It will also serve as the primary liaison with the NSG and oversee the formation of an interministerial committee to ensure compliance with NSG guidelines, Theofelus said, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency.
A high-level ministerial delegation is scheduled to engage with leaders from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the NSG during the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria, this September, to advance Namibia’s bid for NSG membership.
In line with this initiative, the Cabinet has also authorized the Ministry of Mines and Energy to establish a national independent regulatory authority and to put in place robust safeguards, safety protocols, and security mechanisms to oversee nuclear-related activities in the country.
The NSG is a 48-member group of nuclear supplier countries committed to preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It achieves this by enforcing two sets of guidelines that control the export of nuclear materials, equipment, technologies, and dual-use items with potential military applications.
Central to the NSG’s framework is the Non-Proliferation Principle, adopted in 1994. This principle stipulates that nuclear exports should be approved only when the supplier is confident the transfer will not contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation, regardless of other provisions in the guidelines.
An official statement explained: “The Non-Proliferation Principle is designed to address rare but critical cases where a state’s adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty alone may not sufficiently demonstrate its commitment to non-proliferation or its continued compliance with treaty obligations.”
Each NSG Participating Government enforces these guidelines in accordance with its national legislation and export control practices. Export decisions are made independently at the national level, based on respective export licensing procedures.
Namibia’s move to join the NSG reflects its growing role in the global nuclear sector and its commitment to upholding international non-proliferation norms.
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