WINDHOEK, April 26 -- The Chinese owned Husab Uranium mine will offer practical training to Namibian technology students.

The mine owned by China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) singed an agreement last week with the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) at the coastal town Swakopmund to offer practical training to the students.

NIMT is one of Namibia's biggest technology institutes and has been having problems finding companies that are willing to take in students on job attachments.

Established in 1991, NIMT offers courses in mining, manufacturing and engineering.

In 2007, De Beers funded the construction of a second campus in the north of the country at a cost of 2.1 million Namibian dollars( about 175,000 U.S. dollars). The institute also operates in the southern part of the country at Keetmanshoop.

Welcoming the agreement, NIMT executive director Eckhart Mueller said technical training is important to the mining industry and the country.