Tsumeb
President Hage Geingob yesterday inaugurated Dundee Precious Metal’s N$3.9 billion sulphuric acid plant in Tsumeb, part of a strategic new business venture for the copper smelting company.
The plant is said to be able to eliminate about 95 percent of toxic emissions pumped into the air by the smelter. The acid plant will capture sulphur dioxide emissions that result from the mineral smelting process and use these to produce sulphuric acid, a critical component in the mining industry.
The investment is expected to ensure there will be no emissions of sulphur dioxide into the air through the furnace stack, particularly over Tsumeb or the work areas of the smelter, which has for many years affected residents in the surrounding areas.
The N$3.9 billion investment in the state-of-the-art acid manufacturing plant is one of the largest direct capital investments in the country, bringing with it modern high technology and equipment of world-class standard.
“It is pleasing to note that our calls for increased beneficiation and value addition in the mining sector are being implemented by investors. The acid produced here will create business opportunities for TransNamib and other companies. These are the types of investments we value, investments that produce positive spillovers into the rest of our economy,” President Geingob said at the event, which was witnessed by Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Defence Penda ya Ndakolo and Minister of Mines and Energy Obeth Kandjoze, among other high-ranking officials and senior managers.
“Today we can confidently say that Tsumeb Smelter is close to full compliance with Namibian standards, pending the finalisation of the certification process and I expect this process to be concluded expeditiously,” the president further stated.
Geingob also noted that Dundee’s investment is a positive response to the manner in which government continues to support the promotion of investment in the mining sector by creating a stable political environment and a conducive business climate.
Construction started in 2013 with N$2.6 billion having been committed to the construction of the acid plant, while the overall investment in the plant amounts to N$3.9 billion. The acid plant is expected to produce 230 000 to 280 000 tonnes of sulphuric acid per year, which will be contained within the acid plant and transported in approved, safe and secure containers to destinations nationally.
For over 50 years Tsumeb endured unpleasant sulphuric dioxide fumes from the smelter operation, which presented problems in terms of public and occupational health. These concerns led Cabinet to take a decision in 2011 to conduct an investigation into ways to resolve the problem, and this process eventually led to the establishment of an acid plant.
“We saw the challenge and decided to use it as a business opportunity to use these gases to develop new enterprises that would improve the environment. This is further an indication of Dundee’s commitment to improving the environment, investing in the region, as well as creating employment,” said Dundee’s vice president and managing director, Zebra Kaseta.
Kaseta said the project is just one of a series of investments made to upgrade the Tsumeb Smelter to modern standards.