Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom says it has received permission from the Namibian authorities to begin drilling test wells for uranium recovery, following a visit by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assess its proposed extraction method.
Rosatom chief executive Alexei Likhachev announced the development on 30 October 2026, telling reporters on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit that the company had secured authorisation to proceed with operations in Namibia.
“The method we use, so-called in-situ leaching for uranium, has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). An IAEA delegation visited Namibia, after which we received permission to commence operations,” Likhachev said, according to Russian news agency Interfax.
His statement represents a potentially significant development for Rosatom’s proposed Wings uranium project in the Omaheke Region, which is being developed through its subsidiary Headspring Investments.
However, the precise scope of the reported authorisation remains unclear, particularly whether it permits only test-well drilling or includes activities associated with the recovery of uranium through in-situ leaching.
Namibia’s environmental assessment portal continues to list the Wings pilot uranium recovery application as under review, and the publicly available government records do not establish that the project has received approval to commence uranium extraction.
Likhachev directly linked the reported authorisation to the IAEA’s examination of the uranium recovery technology proposed for Namibia.
In-situ leaching involves circulating chemical solutions through uranium-bearing geological formations to dissolve the mineral, which is then recovered through wells and processed.
The method differs from conventional open-pit mining because the uranium-bearing rock remains underground during extraction.
Rosatom intends to apply the technology at its Wings project near Leonardville, where the proposed operation has attracted scrutiny over possible effects on groundwater resources associated with the Stampriet aquifer system.
The Namibian government sought technical assistance from the IAEA to assess the proposed extraction method and its potential environmental implications.
In February 2026, environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti explained that the international agency’s involvement was intended to provide independent technical expertise to inform the government’s assessment.
Likhachev’s latest remarks suggest that Rosatom considers the IAEA review to have been favourable to its proposed operations.
However, the IAEA’s technical assessment does not replace the environmental, water-related and other regulatory authorisations required under Namibian law.
The final findings of the IAEA review and the specific Namibian permit referred to by Likhachev have not been established from the publicly available documents.
Headspring has previously undertaken extensive exploration and groundwater investigations in the project area.
In a parliamentary response, former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein disclosed that the company had drilled approximately 600 exploration boreholes and 36 hydrogeological and monitoring boreholes across 39 farms.
Those activities were undertaken under environmental clearance certificates and drilling permits issued by the relevant Namibian authorities.
Schlettwein also confirmed that Headspring held eight exclusive prospecting licences covering base metals, rare metals and nuclear fuel minerals in parts of Omaheke and Hardap.
The earlier drilling authorisations are distinct from permission to undertake pilot uranium recovery using chemical solutions.
That distinction is important because Likhachev’s announcement does not identify the number of newly authorised wells, the issuing authority or the conditions attached to the reported permission.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism’s environmental assessment portal identifies the Wings application under reference number 230104000751 as a proposed pilot test mining operation using in-situ uranium recovery.
The application remains publicly listed as under review.
Headspring has previously described Wings as being at the pre-feasibility stage, with pilot testing dependent on the necessary Namibian regulatory approvals.
The company has also indicated that preparatory activities, including drilling and installation of equipment, have been undertaken at the proposed pilot site.
The difference between Rosatom’s announcement and the publicly recorded application status raises questions about whether the latest permission concerns a separate drilling programme or represents a further step towards authorising the pilot operation.
Although permission to drill test wells could allow additional technical and geological investigations, it would not necessarily constitute approval to begin commercial uranium production.
Likhachev’s announcement about Namibia formed part of a broader update on Rosatom’s activities across Africa.
He said the corporation had returned to the South African market for enriched uranium products after concluding long-term supply contracts.
Rosatom has also made progress on a project in Tanzania, where it is moving towards establishing full-scale processing facilities.
In Mali, the company is undertaking exploration at a lithium deposit while pursuing an energy project combining a 50-megawatt solar power facility with a 20-megawatt energy storage system.
“As for Mali, we are making significant progress toward the construction of a hybrid power plant, namely a 50-MW solar power facility paired with a 20-MW energy storage system,” Likhachev said.
He added that Rosatom had essentially finalised the contract and entered the initial implementation phase.
The corporation is also constructing four 1,200-megawatt nuclear power units at Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant and is exploring cooperation with Ethiopia, Rwanda and Zambia.
The developments underline Rosatom’s wider ambitions in African uranium, nuclear energy and other mineral and energy projects.
In Namibia, however, the immediate question is whether the permission announced by Likhachev marks the beginning of a new drilling programme or a substantive change in the regulatory position of the Wings pilot uranium recovery project.
The Namibian authorities have yet to publicly clarify the precise authorisation referred to by Rosatom’s chief executive.
