Swakopmund/Walvis Bay
The much-hyped Husab Uranium mine in Erongo Region is expected to generate between N$1.1 billion and N$1.7 billion per year to national revenue, President Hage Geingob was informed during his visit to the region last week.
A visibly impressed Geingob was also told that the mine is expected to contribute five percent to the GDP and 20 percent to the country’s merchandise exports.
Geingob was on a familiarisation tour of Erongo when he visited the N$20 billion Husab mine that is situated about 64 kilometres outside Swakopmund.
Swakop Uranium, the owners of the Usab mine, is owned by China General Nuclear Power Holdings Co, China Africa Development Fund and the state-owned mining company, Epangelo Mining.
Currently, about 4 000 people are employed on the plant’s construction with another 600 on mining operations. The 4 000 employees will be phased out once construction of the mine is completed. However, 600 employees will be employed.
The President was told significant progress has been made with regard to the construction of the mine.
Geingob was accompanied by his Zambian counterpart, President Edgar Lungu, and was taken on a detailed tour by the executive officer of Swakop Uranium, Zheng Keping, and the Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Xin Shunkang.
Closed-door consultations between the presidential delegation and the management of Husab Uranium also took place and gifts were exchanged after the session.
President Geingob visited the open pit of the mine and the processing plant before heading for Walvis Bay where the delegation visited the Namibia Ports Authority (NamPort).
NamPort CEO Bisey Uirab briefed the President about the current status of the Walvis Bay port expansion, which is currently underway.
Presidents Geingob and Lungu also visited the Zambian dry port at Walvis Bay before the Zambian leader departed for home from the local airport.
President Geingob was expected to pay a courtesy call on Erongo Governor Cleophas Mutjavikua, after which he would address the community of Swakopmund and also visit the mass housing project at the coast.