Namibia’s uranium production to fill global supply shortage

The global uranium supply gap left by years of underinvestment needs to be filled urgently to avoid a post-2030 supply crunch — and Namibia is one of the few jurisdictions with shovel-ready projects to fill it.

If the current series of projects are developed, Namibia’s uranium production in the 2030s could reach 14,000–15,000 tU/yr, rivaling the current production of Canada, firmly entrenching it as the top producer in Africa and a critical supplier globally.

Namibia, with 7,333 tonnes of uranium production in 2024, provided 10% of global supply.

And in 2024, Namibia hit its highest ever uranium production, the majority of which is exported to China. Now, the country wants to position itself as a secure supplier to both Asia and Western nuclear fleets as demand climbs.

As nations worldwide re-embrace nuclear power to meet energy security needs, Namibia’s uranium sector is emerging as a strategic lynchpin in global supply chains.

Namibia’s credibility in uranium markets rests on three well established operations in the arid Erongo region, near Swakopmund, which collectively anchor its production capacity:

• Husab mine: a massive open-pit mine operated by Swakop Uranium (majority-owned by China General Nuclear). Since commissioning in 2016, Husab has produced 4,000–4,500 tonnes of U₃O₈ per year, making it Namibia’s largest uranium producer and one of the biggest uranium mines globally. Husab’s output (over 5,000 t in recent years) constitutes the backbone of Namibia’s uranium industry
• Rössing mine: in operation since 1976, Rössing is one of the world’s longest-running open-pit uranium mines. Now majority-owned by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Rössing consistently produces 2,200–2,500 tonnes of U₃O₈ annually. In 2023 it delivered 2,920 tU (6.4 Mlbs U₃O₈) and has secured an extension of its mine life to 2036. Rössing’s steady output remains a cornerstone of Namibia’s exports, and ongoing investments aim to sustain production into the 2030s
• Langer Heinrich mine: idled in 2018 due to low prices, this mine (75% owned by Paladin Energy) resumed production in 2024 with the uranium price rally. By mid-2024 it had produced 235 tonnes U₃O₈ during ramp-up, and is expected to ramp to 1,300–1,600 tonnes per year in 2025. With Langer Heinrich back online, Namibia’s uranium output hit a record high in 2024.