The largest reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant in Southern Africa, the Erongo Desalination Plant (EDP), achieved another record production year in 2025 with a total of 17.59 million cubic metres of water produced.
Located 35 kilometres north of Swakopmund, near the settlement of Wlotzkasbaken in the Namib Desert, the plant achieved an increase of 14% compared to 2024 in water production for the Erongo region.
The EDP is owned by Orano Mining and is an important contributor to the overall supply of potable water delivery system managed by NamWater, providing a substantial portion of the local drinking water supply to the town of Swakopmund as well as the nearby uranium mines and other industries.
“This year-on-year continuous growth demonstrates the EDP’s ability to grow with the increase in demand in the Erongo region and presents further proof of its ability to deliver potable water to its current capacity of 22.5 million cubic metres per annum, as well as its proven historical track record in reliable water provision,” Orano Mining stated.
EDP production is supplied to NamWater, ensuring water availability and distribution for industries, municipalities, and rural areas. The water produced at EDP adheres to national water standards for potable water for human consumption and is tested regularly by independent third parties in terms of NamWater requirements. Its environmental management system adheres to the highest standards, as confirmed by ongoing impact testing around the operating site by independent third parties.
“For the year ahead, the EDP is ready to increase water supply to NamWater as demand in the Erongo region increases with the development of mining and other industries, and the related growth of local towns,” Orano stated.
The full design capacity for the EDP is 45 million cubic metres per annum, and in anticipation of the rising demand in Erongo, teams are already working on future plans to further increase the capacity of the EDP to meet growing demand.
“As part of the EDP’s focus on continuous improvement, a pilot plant will be developed early in the year to test the potential use of a Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) system to study the management of Sulphur outbreaks,” it added.
In 2025, a solar energy plant developed at the Trekkopje mine commenced power supply to the EDP, following a successful commissioning.
The incorporation of solar power reduces the carbon footprint, with the resultant cost saving passed on to customers.
To date, 7 000 000 kilowatt-hours (kWhr) were supplied, and the cost saving of N$4 million, or on average 60 cents per cubic metres of water produced, was passed on to consumers. This has allowed EDP to reduce its water price by 2% over the last 12-month period. Moreover, the Sorexa Solar Project, developed by Innosun Energy Holdings under a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Orano Mining Namibia, will supply up to 30% of the EDP’s electricity needs, in line with current regulations set by the Electricity Control Board (ECB).
The remaining electricity needs are sourced from NamPower.
Orano Mining explained that the EDP already has an energy recovery system in place that enables the plant to harness the pressure energy from the brine stream generated by the reverse osmosis process, feeding it back into the system. In addition, the plant launched a power utilisation optimisation exercise for efficient overall power consumption.
“Orano remains committed to the principle of continuous improvement and innovation for the Erongo Desalination Plant, and its role as an enabler in regional and national development,” the company stated.
–ebrandt@nepc.com.na
