Niël Terblanché
In a gesture of community support, prospective uranium miner Headspring Investment, a subsidiary of the Uranium One Group, has constructed a state-of-the-art kitchen at Noasanabis Primary School in Leonardville.
This facility, developed under Headspring’s corporate social responsibility programme, aims to provide daily meals to more than 600 learners who attend the school every day.
Pijoo Nganate, the Omaheke Regional Governor, lauded the project, noting the importance of stakeholders in local development.
“Uranium One has done tremendous work in assisting the local school with this much-needed kitchen project,” Nganate said.
Headspring’s Executive Director, Kirill Egorov-Kirillov, emphasised the company’s commitment to making a positive impact in the communities where they operate.
“The idea is to make a difference in the communities where we operate and ensure there is a true reflection of tangible development in the area,” said Egorov-Kirillov.
He also stressed the necessity of the kitchen, noting that preparing food on open fires posed risks to the children. The new facility guarantees the safe preparation of meals.
Petra Witbooi, Chairperson of Leonardville Village Council, shared the governor’s sentiments and described the initiative as a good achievement for the school and the community of Leonardville.
Headspring Investment’s involvement in Namibia extends beyond this community project.
The company has been actively exploring uranium deposits in the Leonardville area since 2010.
Despite initial setbacks, such as a moratorium on uranium exploration lifted in 2018, the company discovered a significant uranium deposit in 2019.
Known as Project Wings, this initiative could transform Namibia’s economy, with projections of generating N$6.6 billion annually over 25 years.
In addition to exploration for uranium, Headspring has received an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) to construct a field laboratory on Farm Tripoli, near Leonardville.
The facility is envisaged to expedite the analysis of core samples, crucial for advancing their uranium mining operations.
According to Egorov-Kirillov, the new kitchen at the Noasanabis Primary School is part of Headspring’s broader commitment to community upliftment and social responsibility.
The company’s initiatives aim to ensure the safety and well-being of the local population, reflecting their dedication to sustainable development and long-term positive impact.
