The third annual general assembly, a conference and an exhibition of the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR), is taking place in Windhoek next week. It is the first time it is hosted in Namibia. The conference is organised by AFUR, in conjunction with the Electricity Control Board of Namibia (ECB), the Regional Electricity Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA), and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), with the support of the World Bank’s Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF). About 120 delegates will are expected, Dr Siseho Simasiku of Namibia’s ECB told reporters. Namibia’s electricity regulator was established in 2000. It issues licences to electricity distributors and regulates electricity prices.

The company conducting an environmental impact assessment of a planned uranium mine near Trekkopje in the Namib Desert will hold a meeting in Swakopmund and Windhoek soon to inform the general public about the new mining project. Marie Hoadley, environmental consultant for UraMin Namibia Pty Ltd confirmed to PLUS that the date for the 2 meetings would be announced soon. The first public haring was held at Arandis earlier this week. The site of what would become Namibia’s third uranium mine is 30 km north of Arandis. After construction, the mine will only employ 120 people for the life span of the mine, which is 10 years. Construction for a second uranium mine near the Tinkas plain in the Namib Naukluft Park is expected at the end of this year. Paladin resources, an Australian mining outfit, own Langer Heinrich Uranium.

Any members of the public interested to send comments on the Trekkopje mine or receive information can either visit the environmental consultants on the second floor of the Hidas Building in Klein Windhoek or e-mail to mariehoadley@iafrica.com.na.

The Namibian government is concerned about peace and stability between China and Taiwan after the Taiwanese president last week stopped the National Unification Council, which is to work on unification with China. Taiwan, formerly Formosa, seceded from Mainland China after World War II and declared itself as an independent republic. After Namibia’s independence in 1990, the Windhoek government immediately supported China and the efforts of Beijing to incorporate Taiwan back into China. This week, the permanent secretary of the foreign affairs ministry, Veikkoh Nghiwete, said in a statement, that Taiwan’s move last week was a cause of concern. "The Namibian government reiterates its full support for the One-China policy", Nghiwete said, "and reaffirms that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China includes Taiwan, as recognised by the international community".