Auleria Wakudumo

Environment minister Indileni Daniel has called for an end to illegal sand and gravel mining across various parts of Namibia.

The minister said that the ministry has noted with serious concern the continued increase in illegal sand and gravel mining activities across various parts of Namibia. She said that these activities are being undertaken without the required Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECCs) issued by the Office of the Environmental Commissioner (OEC), as stipulated under the Environmental Management Act.

“The ministry wishes to remind all individuals, businesses, local and traditional authorities that any sand and gravel mining activity must be preceded by an environmental impact assessment, an environmental management plan and the issuance of an ECC from the OEC,” she highlighted.

Daniel explained that illegal sand and gravel mining poses danger to the environment, people, livestock and wildlife, such as land degradation, erosion of riverbanks, damage to infrastructure, destruction of wetlands and agricultural land like mahangu fields. She said that these impacts threaten human life, water and food security, grazing land and biodiversity.

“The open pits left behind by illegal sand and gravel mining operations fill with water during the rainy season, like now, posing a serious risk to wildlife, livestock and human beings, particularly children,” she said.

The minister said that while the ministry acknowledges the growing demand for sand and gravel driven by national development priorities of new roads, housing and other infrastructure, development cannot come at the cost of irreversible environmental degradation.

She said that proper regulation of sand and gravel mining is therefore essential to balance economic development with environmental protection. The ministry will soon be undertaking regional stakeholder engagements on Sand and Gravel Mining Regulations. The regulations are a needful ingredient in the implementation and enforcement of the Environmental Management Act. 

Daniel encouraged all stakeholders to attend these engagements and called upon all Namibians to desist from illegal sand and gravel mining and to comply fully with the existing environmental laws.

– awakudumo@nepc.com.na