Atomic Energy Board of Namibia - The Chamber of Mines Uranium ...

8.4. Strategic Environment Assessment in the
Erongo Region
The Board acknowledges that the current upsurge in
uranium mining will have significant impact for Namibia
and it should be ensured that the country establishes
and maintains a good record of responsible uranium
production. In this context it is important that the
negative impacts associated with the uranium mining
industry be kept to a minimum while maximize on the
potential benefits thereof. It is for this reason that the
Board has resolved to partner with stakeholders in the
current Strategic Environment Assessment and more so
with the implementation of the Strategic Environment
Management Plan.
8.2. Committees of the Board
The Board considered the terms of reference of two
committees which pre-dates the inauguration of the
Board. These include the Nuclear Security Committee
and the National Cancer Control Committee. In its
conclusion the Board opted to formalize the Nuclear
Security Committee as one of its committees, subject
to alignment of the Committee’s terms of reference with
the Board’s mandate and requirements under Sections
10 & 11 of the Act.
8.3. Membership to the Atomic Energy Board
Following extensive consultation with the office of the
Hon. Minister it was concluded that representation from
the national security fraternity is of vital importance on
the Board. Hence in conformity with Section (9) of the
Act the Board decided to co-opt a member from the
Namibia Central Intelligence Service as a member of
the Board.
9. Regulations in Connection with the Atomic
Energy & Radiation Protection Act
In line with its mandate to recommend regulations to
the Minister as contemplated under Section 43 of the
Act, the Board took note of the draft regulations for
protection against ionizing radiation, which have been
submitted to the Government’s legal drafters for scrutiny.
While the Board appreciates that the IAEA and some
local stakeholders had made input to the current draft,
it recognizes that further consultation may be necessary
before gazetting the regulations and the subsequent
operationalisation of the Act.
In the opinion of the Board the current draft regulations
are comprehensive, addressing general issues relating
to radiation protection and waste management.
10 Atomic Energy Board of Namibia – Annual Report 2009/2010