Staff Writer
The Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association (SAUMA) attended a closed stakeholder meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 6 February. Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti invited the association to take part.
The meeting formed part of an independent technical review by six IAEA representatives into a proposed uranium in situ leaching mining project in the Omaheke region. The review aims to provide expert advice on environmental protection, groundwater resources, public health and regulatory oversight.
The IAEA team was invited to review Headspring Investments’ application for an environmental clearance certificate (ECC). The company plans to conduct four years of test mining using the in situ leaching method. The test phase would assess different leachates within the underground aquifer system.
Headspring Investments operates in Namibia under Uranium One Group, which is owned by Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. Uranium One has operations in several countries, including Kazakhstan, Tanzania and Namibia.
From 2019 to 2021, exploration drilling led to the discovery of a uranium ore body in the Omaheke region. About 150 Namibians were employed during that phase. The sandstone-type deposit is considered suitable for in-situ recovery and is estimated to produce about 3 000 tons of uranium per year over a mine life of at least 25 years.
SAUMA used the engagement to raise concerns about possible groundwater contamination. The association said testing leachates in what it describes as a key underground drinking water source could pose environmental risks.
SAUMA said it has spent four years gathering information and consulting international experts to understand the in situ leaching process and its risks. Its experts and management committee presented their findings and responded to questions from the IAEA delegation.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the mission seeks to support evidence-based decision-making. The IAEA delegation’s programme in Namibia runs from 9 to 13 February and includes meetings with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, and the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy. The delegation also conducted a field visit and met with the prime minister and the governor of the Omaheke region.
The IAEA team will compile its findings and submit recommendations to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. The review is limited to the test mining application. The environmental commissioner has set June 2026 as the timeframe for a decision.
SAUMA renewed its call for an independent hydrogeological study of the transboundary Stampriet Aquifer. It said protecting groundwater resources is critical in a water-scarce country like Namibia.
Caption
The Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association’s focus is primarily on protecting the Stampriet Aquifer Basin.
- Photo: Contributed
