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Nam Fulfils Its Nuclear Obligations

New Era (Windhoek)
NEWS
April 5, 2004
Posted to the web April 5, 2004

By Leonard Amadhila
Windhoek
THE verification mandate and roles under the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapon State (NNWS) and the International Atomic Agency Safeguard System should
not be used as a means of strangulating developing countries' technology,
financial and economic development.
This was said by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Dr Nicky Iyambo, at the
official opening of a three-day regional seminar on the non-proliferation of
nuclear weapons last week.
Iyambo noted that the verification roles in some countries were regarded as a
threat to such countries, adding such roles should not be made a threat and
neither a barrier to the economic and technological development of such
countries.
He suggested that for the world to achieve total freedom and sustainable
utilisation of nuclear materials positively, the safeguard system must be used
to develop or create a conducive environment of peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Both national and regional securities should be taken into account when nuclear
energy or materials are used for sustainable development purposes.
"Namibia is the fourth uranium oxide producer and exporter country in the world
after Canada, Australia and Niger," said Iyambo
The Minister stressed that it was therefore vital that Namibia accedes to the
UN Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials sealed in 2002.
Such convention, according to the Minister, would induce Namibia to take
appropriate measures within the framework of the national law and consistent
with international law, to ensure that uranium materials within Namibia are
protected.
"Namibia will soon expedite her obligations under these agreements in the near
future and the model protocol additional to the safeguards agreement shall
enter into force in Namibia after the statutory requirements are met," said the
Minister.
He revealed that technical arrangements are under way to ensure that Namibia
safeguards itself and the region by establishing the State System of Accounting
for and Control of Nuclear Materials (SSAC) in accordance with the Nuclear
Protection Treaty, the NNWS mandate within the framework of International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iyambo said that in spite of the inexistence of the SSAC Namibia is already
fulfilling its obligations to control and verify all nuclear materials used for
developmental, health and food production purposes.
According to the Minister, the country has national projects and technical
programmes supported by the IAEA in the areas of water resources management,
human resources management, nuclear science and technology and environmental
control, and auditing and safeguarding the country's uranium industry.
He applauded the IAEA for its continuous positive support and assistance. He
said this would strengthen the country's national capacity in nuclear
protection, utilisation and safeguarding.
Participants from SADC member countries attended the seminar, under the
facilitation of officials from the IAEA head office in Europe.

   

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