Rosatom Gets Nod for Namibia Uranium Test Wells
Rosatom's chief says the Russian nuclear firm may begin drilling test wells in Namibia's Omaheke Region, pending clarity on the project's regulatory status.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Nuclear
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Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev said on 30 October 2026, during the Russia-Africa summit, that the company has received permission to begin drilling test wells in Namibia's Omaheke Region. The IAEA has approved Rosatom's proposed in-situ leaching method, though the Wings pilot uranium recovery application remains under review on Namibia's environmental assessment portal.
Why it matters
In-situ leaching circulates chemical solutions through underground uranium-bearing formations, raising questions about groundwater in the Stampriet aquifer system. The Namibian government sought IAEA technical help to evaluate those environmental implications before the project advances.
Headspring Investments, a Rosatom subsidiary, has drilled hundreds of boreholes in the project area, yet the Wings project remains at the pre-feasibility stage. The current regulatory standing of the drilling permission has not been confirmed by Namibian authorities.
The players
Rosatom
Rosatom is Russia's state nuclear corporation, which oversees the country's civil nuclear industry and its overseas nuclear projects.
Alexei Likhachev
Alexei Likhachev is the chief executive of Rosatom, leading the state nuclear company's international expansion.
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is the United Nations body that promotes peaceful nuclear technology and oversees nuclear safety standards worldwide.
The details
In-situ leaching dissolves uranium by pumping chemical solutions through underground formations, and the dissolved uranium is then brought to the surface for processing. Rosatom is also re-establishing its presence in South Africa's enriched uranium market and advancing projects in Tanzania, Mali and Egypt.
Timeline
30 October 2026: Likhachev announces test-well drilling permission during the Russia-Africa summit.
Science Context
The IAEA's approval of Rosatom's in-situ leaching method places the agency's technical review at the center of a Namibian project still awaiting domestic environmental sign-off. Namibia's request for IAEA assistance on environmental implications reflects a government seeking independent evaluation before drilling advances.
In-situ leaching could eventually shape uranium supply for global nuclear fuel markets if the Wings project advances past its current pre-feasibility stage. Any groundwater effects in the Stampriet aquifer would depend on the environmental review now under way.
The takeaway
Projects that depend on underground chemical extraction hinge on regulatory review as much as on technical approval. Watching how Namibian authorities resolve the pending environmental assessment will show whether drilling proceeds as planned.
Further reading
Explore more on Nuclear developments and the technologies behind uranium extraction.
Source note: This article includes information reported by African Mining Market.
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