WINDHOEK – Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) Tsumeb yesterday confirmed that its N$3 billion sulphuric acid plant is on schedule and should be completed towards the end of 2014.
The plant, which is one of the biggest capital projects in Namibian history, is designed to solve a nagging environmental problem of sulphur dioxide being released into the atmosphere during the blister copper manufacturing process.
The new plant will also create a value-added commodity, sulphuric acid, of which DPM Tsumeb’s Vice-President and General Manager, Hans Nolte, said 90 percent will be sold to Rossing Uranium. DPM Tsumeb is still in discussion with Weatherly Mining for the uptake of the remaining 10 percent. “It’s worth noting that this construction project will employ 600 to 700 employees during the construction phase and, on completion, will create approximately 30 to 40 new permanent jobs,” remarked Nolte.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting in the capital yesterday, Nolte added that DPM Tsumeb is anxiously awaiting the official findings of the recent health audits ordered by government in response to complaints from the public about health and environmental effects of the smelter operations on the Tsumeb community.
The results of the audit are expected to be released next year. “We are confident that the report will provide objective and statistically verifiable conclusions about the historical and present day impacts of the Tsumeb Smelter. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again that Dundee Precious Metals will abide wholeheartedly by any recommendations arising from this report,” said Nolte. He also noted that since acquiring the smelter from Weatherly Mining in 2010, DPM launched a multi-million dollar project to correct the widespread health, safety and environmental shortcomings that had accumulated during the last 15 to 20 years.
Nolte also pointed out that DPM’s social investment arm, the Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Community Trust was recently reconstituted and a new board of trustees was appointed to determine how to distribute no less than N$2 million per year to worthy educational, business and social welfare projects. “Aside from the trust’s activities is another company initiative whereby we are building more than 100 houses for low income smelter employees who are unable to obtain bank housing loans,” concluded Nolte.
By Edgar Brandt