US Seeks Increased Namibian Uranium Imports to Power AI-Driven Nuclear Plants

Gate News message, April 18 — The United States is considering higher uranium imports from Namibia to fuel nuclear plants that could support AI data centers, according to U.S. Ambassador John Giordano. The U.S. government may also back new mining output through American companies and government financing.

In 2024, the U.S. imported 633 metric tons of uranium from Namibia, while China imported 8,413 tons, according to World Integrated Trade Solution data. Namibia ranks as the world's third-largest uranium producer after Kazakhstan and Canada, according to the World Nuclear Association.

China's state-owned firms dominate Namibia's uranium sector, operating the country's two largest operating mines. Swakop Uranium's Husab mine is majority Chinese-owned, while the Rössing mine is 68.6% controlled by China National Uranium Corporation Limited (CNUC), a Chinese state-backed entity.

AI-driven power demand and growing interest in nuclear energy have pushed uranium prices to two-year highs, reviving dormant mining projects. French nuclear company Orano is reconsidering the Trekkopje mine, idle for over a decade. However, Namibia's arid climate poses constraints: uranium mines in the Erongo region consume approximately 53 million cubic meters of water annually, approaching the national supply of roughly 67 million cubic meters, potentially increasing reliance on desalination.