By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
Otjozondu Mining is sponsoring an international exchange programme between the University of Namibia and the Technical University in Berlin (TU Berlin), which will be introduced to the public during a conference that starts today.
As many as 20 young geology students from Namibia and Germany will work in the field together with experienced geologists to give them insight into the day-to-day business of an opencast mining and exploration programme.
The exchange programme will start with two German students coming to Namibia at the end of November or early December. The students will spend three to five months in the country and will also use the practical experience for their theses, said the company.
Lilly le Roux yesterday said this was an opportunity for both Namibian and German students to work on site.
Twelve Namibian students have applied to take part in the programme.
A statement from Otjozondu Mining said the University of Namibia (UNAM) will this week identify the first Namibian students to join the programme, while the programme to attend lectures at the Technical University in Berlin will be prepared in due course.
The Namibian students will spend about six weeks at TU Berlin.
The mining company has organised a conference for the international internship exchange programme which starts today and ends on Monday.
The programme includes a geology conference, an exploration programme for students in cooperation with UNAM, a presentation on manganese and a visit to the geology museum at the Ministry of Mines and Energy and to the mining site.
Students and officials from UNAM and TU Berlin, Otjozondu personnel and representatives of the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the German Embassy are expected to participate in the conference.
Meanwhile, the company also announced plans to build a clinic near Otjozondu village, 150 km north-east of Okahandja to serve both the mine workers and community members.
Le Roux said the company was consulting with authorities on the modalities of building a clinic. The actual building may start next year.