After having been with Debmarine for 33 years, Captain Marek Lipowski is retiring. He currently serves as master of the mining vessel (mv) Debmar Pacific. New Era caught up with Captain Merek as he prepares to leave behind a lifetime of marine mining.
Government’s initial investment into Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) was N$ 50 million. Since then, the company has created gross value of N$975 million mainly from sales less purchases, the margin achieved above purchase price, as well as interest received on investments.
The construction of Debmarine Namibia’s new recovery vessel is nearing completion and is set for delivery this month. A significant milestone was achieved when the main engines of the Additional Mining Vessel #3 (AMV3) were recently started successfully for the first time.
One of the major challenges at the Swakop Uranium mine in the Erongo region is the availability of parts and prices due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that disturbed the world’s logistics chains. Vice president for mining operations at the Swakop Uranium, Irvinne Simataa, noted the focus is now on ramping up the mine operations.
De Beers Group, Namdeb, Debmarine Namibia and Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) recently pledged a combined N$26 million to support the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Namibia. The pledge will comprise financial support as well as a range of in-kind support to assist with the rollout of the Namibia vaccination campaign.
In what seems to be quite a challenging environment for female counterparts, and a sphere of work traditionally dominated by men, there seems to be a positive shift in attitude with regards to women in mining lately. Emitty Mutenda, a processing manager at Uis Tin mine, is taking full advantage of the shift in perceptions.
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic that lowered the demand for and sales of products and stopped many economic activities, including mining, the Rossing Uranium mine still managed to increase its production from 3.9% in 2019 to 4.4% of global output in 2020.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd (ReconAfrica) has confirmed that the ministry of environment, on 2 July 2021 issued an environmental clearance certificate (ECC) for the initial 2D seismic programme to be conducted in the Petroleum Exploration Licence No.73 in the Kavango East and West regions.
Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) and Skorpion Zinc, the largest integrated zinc refinery in Africa, have expressed their dismay with various notifications currently doing the rounds in which it is alleged that Skorpion Zinc is hiring, and that CV’s can be submitted to some //Kharas constituency offices and an agency parading itself as Bureau Veritas Africa.
Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) says it remains focussed on prioritising growth projects across its operations in Africa, and Skorpion Zinc in southern Namibia is no exception. In order to create a sustainable life for Skorpion Zinc and shorten the care and maintenance period, VZI‘s accelerated focus is currently on the Namzinc Refinery Conversion Project, which will enable co-treatment of sulphi