Windhoek (Namibia) (PTI): In its global search for fuel to enhance nuclear power generation, India on Thursday asked Namibia to supply uranium from its vast reserves.

India's request for sourcing uranium from the south-west African nation was conveyed to Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula by Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, who called on him here.

"India and Namibia could explore a long-term relationship in uranium," Ramesh said after his meeting with Angula. He also informed the Namibian Prime Minister that the coalition Indian Government was trying to sign a civil nuclear deal with the US.

Ramesh, leading an Indian business delegation, is on a week-long tour to Namibia and Angola.

Nuclear energy contributes less than three per cent of the country's installed generation capacity. India targets to add 78,577 MW power generation capacity during the 11th five year plan. Of this, about 3,800 MW is sought to be generated by nuclear plants.

Namibia, which is not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), has 8-9 per cent of the world's uranium resources. It can help India in meeting its energy requirements, he said.

He said as India would be expanding its nuclear generating capacity, there was a need to explore sourcing uranium from countries across the globe.

While there are uranium reserves in India, they cannot be explored fully due to the ecologically sensitive locations of the areas.

Meanwhile, Angula said India can assist Namibia in the field of information and communication technology, railway and telecom.