Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s government has instructed the Namibian Police to prevent the transportation of lithium ore by Chinese mining company Xinfeng Investments within the country.
The action also prevents the export of raw materials from the Port of Walvis Bay and is in response to allegations that Xinfeng Investments is violating Namibia’s ban on the export of critical raw minerals.
Namibia’s Mining Commissioner, Isabella Chirchir, issued a letter dated October 19th, instructing the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, to halt any trucks carrying raw lithium ore originating from Xinfeng’s Kohero mine, located near Uis about 250 kilometres northwest of Windhoek.
“They are not allowed to remove any material from their mine to anywhere within Namibia or outside,” Chirchir wrote in the letter.
She also stipulated that all trucks transporting lithium ore to the Walvis Bay harbour should be intercepted and returned to the mine.
This development follows Namibia’s decision in June to impose a ban on the export of unprocessed lithium and other critical minerals.
The government’s aim with the ban is to encourage local processing and capitalize on the increasing global demand for metals crucial in clean energy technologies.
Namibia boasts significant deposits of lithium, a vital component for renewable energy storage, as well as rare earth minerals like dysprosium and terbium, essential for the creation of permanent magnets used in electric car batteries and wind turbines.
Xinfeng Investments has previously clashed with Namibian authorities. In October of the previous year, the Namibian government prohibited the company from exporting lithium ore to China, citing irregular shipments.
Xinfeng Investments refuted these allegations, claiming that the shipments were intended for tests to determine the design of a lithium processing plant within Namibia.
In April, Tom Alweendo, the mines and energy minister, cancelled Xinfeng’s mining license and ordered the cessation of its operations by May 31st. The minister accused the company of holding an irregular license.
Xinfeng Investments challenged this decision successfully in Namibia’s High Court, where a judge ruled that Alweendo lacked the authority to revoke the license and should have pursued legal channels to do so.
The ongoing dispute between the Namibian government and Xinfeng Investments continues to raise questions about mining operations, export regulations, and the utilization of Namibia’s valuable mineral resources.
