– Governor Demands to Get Involved By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK Two opposing owners of mining prospecting companies are allegedly at loggerheads in their efforts to obtain an exclusive Exploring Processing License (EPL) on a large stretch of land in the Karas Region. The acting mining Commissioner of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Abraham Ilendi, has confirmed to New Era that both companies have applied for prospecting rights for the same land. It is alleged that a geological survey has brought to light that a large area, including a farm, which is situated 70 kilometres west of Keetmanshoop, is richly endowed with limestone and other rare industrial minerals. Seemingly, the Ministry of Mines is faced with a dilemma regarding the allocation of the licence to one of the two company-owners. “Both applications are pending and both will be evaluated by the mining committee during its first sitting next month,” said Abraham Ilendi when asked for comment on the issue. The two individuals are Emmi Schroeder, the owner of Namibia Mineral Mining, Plants and Products, and Mwiya Sindila, former chief geologist in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, who apparently worked on a geological survey on the farm Simplon on behalf of Emmi Schroeder. It is alleged that, based on his rich mineral findings, Sindila made overtures to go into partnership with Schroeder, a request that was summarily rejected. Following on the refusal, he apparently decided to apply for an exploring licence for the same area. “In view of the economic potential of such a mine in the Karas whereby an estimated 500 Southerners can be given employment, it is my hope that this dragging issue be resolved with the involvement of the Karas Regional Council. It would be fitting and appropriate that we make a recommendation to the Ministry of Mines and Energy,” said Karas governor Dawid Boois, when approached for comment yesterday. He telephonically told New Era that the mining issue has been dragging on for more than two years now. “The mining potential of the Karas Region was highlighted during an investment conference held in the region some four years ago. Since then, the cement-mining issue has been on the table but, due to many unnecessary delays, no EPL has been allocated. Because of these delays, the Karas Region has been denied economic development,” said Boois. According to Samuel Kalula of the claims registering office in the ministry of Mines and Energy, a formal application, number 3532, had been issued to Emmi Schroeder on 58ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 602 hectares of land, whereas a similar formal application, number 3384, was issued to Mwiya Sindila for an area of 46ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 404 hectares on the same land. According to Ilendi, both mining entrepreneurs intend to explore for industrial base metal minerals, copper, gold and limestone – an important element for cement production. It is believed there are sufficient limestone deposits on this land to provide for the total cement needs of Namibia, which would cut down on the annual massive amounts of imports from South Africa worth billions of dollars. “The South African cement-producing giant, Portland Cement, mined on the former ostrich farm, Simplon, for many years until 1989, just before Namibia gained independence. With the exception of 20 hectares specially allocated for residential purposes, Simplon was offered for sale. An English farmer bought the farm,” said Schroeder during an interview in October last year with Ilendi on the farm. It was then that she told New Era that during the exploration period Portland Cement had demarcated a number of claims on the property, of which 20 hectares were specially reserved for residential purposes on the farm. She is today staying alone on the farm. “My application for an exploration-processing licence is apparently a very sensitive issue, preventing me from exploring for the mineral riches of the South. My impression is that we are deliberately being prevented from initiateing mining projects that could be of benefit to the people of the South,” she also said. “During its first meeting of the year next month, the exploring processing licence committee of the Ministry of Mines and Energy will evaluate both applications for allocation consideration,” said Ilendi. For further pictures, see Page 11.