VZCZCXYZ0013
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWD #0296/01 2301552
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 181552Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0710
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0100
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0101
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0051
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 5298

C O N F I D E N T I A L WINDHOEK 000296 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ISN (NMENKHOFF), T, AND AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2019 
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM ENRG EMIN ETTC PREL IR WA
SUBJECT: NAMIBIA'S URANIUM: THE TRADE MINISTER'S VIEWS 
 
REF: A. WINDHOEK 202 
     ¶B. WINDHOEK 200 
     ¶C. WINDHOEK 198 
     ¶D. WINDHOEK 159 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR DENNISE MATHIEU for 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (C) Namibia's Minister of Trade and Industry Hage Geingob 
recently shared his views on his country's rapidly growing 
uranium mining industry with Ambassador Mathieu.  The 
Ambassador emphasized the need for the Namibian Government 
(GRN) to be watchful of Iran that might attempt to employ 
various tactics - including the use of front companies - to 
obtain nuclear material.  Geingob stressed that Russian and 
Chinese firms have entered the sector, but that the GRN 
remains vigilant of any efforts by rogue states to acquire 
Namibian uranium.  While the government may be alert to the 
dangers, Geingob acknowledged that companies could attempt to 
bribe GRN officials and such deals would be difficult to 
detect.  In a separate discussion with a high-level Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) official, the Ambassador again 
stressed the need for the GRN to pay close attention to 
Iran's potential attempts to obtain Namibian uranium.  End 
Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
Let's Talk About Uranium 
------------------------ 
 
¶2. (C) On August 13, Hage Geingob, Minister of Trade and 
Industry and SWAPO Party Vice President, and Ambassador 
Qhieu discussed a broad range of issues.  Responding to the 
Ambassador's inquiry into the GRN's plans for the upcoming 
Corporate Council on Africa's (CCA) business summit, the 
Minister steered the conversation to Namibia's fast growing 
uranium industry.  The Minister reported that many companies 
from various countries had entered Namibia's uranium sector. 
He stressed that the Russians and Chinese were particularly 
active.  In a surprisingly frank acknowledgment, the Minister 
said the Chinese and Russians leverage their historical 
(liberation struggle) ties of solidarity and comradeship to 
pursue uranium opportunities. 
 
¶3. (C) Geingob, without prompting, mentioned that many 
Namibians acquired uranium exploratory licenses (EPLs) but 
did not exploit their EPLs for mining purposes. Instead, some 
Namibian recipients have simply resold their EPLs to 
foreigners for up two million Namibian dollars (USD $250,000) 
or more, noted the Minister.  (Note: To better control the 
proliferation of exploratory licenses, the GRN introduced a 
moratorium on their issuance in 2007. According to a report 
by the Ministry of Mines Energy, the Ministry has processed 
63 EPL requests related to uranium mining since May 2005. 
Nearly 40 were granted, while the rest are pending.  End 
Note). 
 
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Iran and the Uranium Sector 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) When the Ambassador raised Iran, Geingob quickly 
responded that Tehran's interests in Namibian uranium date 
back to the time of Shah. He emphasized that the Iranian 
government's stake in Rio Tinto's Rossing Uranium mine 
predates the Islamic revolution.  (Note: The Iran Foreign 
Investment Company (IFIC) maintains the Government of Iran's 
15 percent stake in Rossing.    Like other shareholders, IFIC 
has no off-take rights to the uranium oxide.  Australia's Rio 
Tinto, which has a 69 percent equity position, has full 
control over production. End note.) 
 
¶5. (C) The Ambassador warned that a rogue state such as Iran 
could use shell companies to obfuscate its attempts to 
acquire uranium and stressed the GRN should be vigilant about 
the potential for such arrangements.  Geingob acknowledged 
that front companies could be an issue, and then - using the 
Ambassador's words - stressed that the GRN was being "very 
vigilant."  Geingob remarked that Australian, Canadian, and 
French firms were the only companies currently running 
operational mines.  He also commented that increased 
competition within the uranium sector is good, but noted that 
no U.S. companies were involved.  Geingob repeated that the 
Russians had entered the market, but claimed the GRN was "not 
sure what they (the Russians) are doing."  The Minister 
stressed that the GRN and the Ministry of Mines and Energy 
were keen to protect the country's reputation and thus would 
remain on the alert for any potential bad actors. 
Nevertheless, Geingob acknowledged that if an unscrupulous 
company bribed a dishonest official, it could be difficult to 
uncover. 
 
----------------------- 
MFA on Iran and Uranium 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) On the margins of a ceremony on July 29, Ambassador 
Mathieu took the opportunity to reiterate to the Deputy 
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that 
the GRN should remain vigilant to possible attempts by Iran, 
possibly through front companies and/or unscrupulous business 
dealings, to procure uranium from Namibia.  The MFA 
Interlocutor -- Hinangerwa Asheeke -- responded that the GRN 
hoped the relationship between the United States and Iran 
would soon improve, and noted that Namibia had a longstanding 
relationship with Iran. Ambassador Mathieu acknowledged that 
legitimate business dealings were understandable and 
acceptable, but emphasized that UN sanctions must be 
respected. 
 
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Comment 
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¶7. (C) Post has no indication that the GRN is planning or 
willing to enter into any deals that would circumvent UN 
Security Council sanctions against Iran. It is not clear, 
however, whether Namibia has sufficient safeguards and/or 
resources in place to detect and prevent an attempt by 
unscrupulous individuals to acquire uranium oxide on Iran's 
behalf.  At every opportunity, we will continue to press GRN 
officials on the importance of remaining alert and adhering 
to UN sanctions.   End Comment. 
MATHIEU