The mining company exploring uranium in the Leonardville area, Uranium One, remains optimistic they will commence with actual mining a few years from now. This is despite the tension triggered among some farmers, community leaders and government officials due to the close proximity of mining activity to a valuable water aquifer in the cattle farming area.
Uranium One is a Russian State-owned entity, known for uranium exploration, mining and processing.
Uranium One spokesperson, Riaan van Rooyen, in a statement yesterday said the company already started to invest heavily in the upliftment of the Leonardville community. He noted the company had spent over N$2 500 000 on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and has invested N$850 million thus far on exploration processes.
“So far, Uranium One has repaired the Leonardville police vehicles, donated money to the local farmers union, provides food for the learners of Noasanabis Primary School, is in the process of constructing a modern kitchen and a roof to provide shade and create an area where the learners can enjoy their meals in dignity, have kitted out the One soccer team (sponsorship for travelling and participation to continue), held a Christmas Festival in 2022 and is sponsoring the career fair in Leonardville as well as in Gobabis,” he listed.
Van Rooyen added they donated a double cab vehicle to the health ministry for a medical outreach programme for the Omaheke region.
All these CSR activities he said were done over and above the payments that were made to farmers for exploring on their farms. “In one instance, a farmer received cash and assistance of N$5.1 million over three years, while exploration was done on his farm.”
According to the spokesperson, many more educational and upliftment programmes are planned for Leonardville, of which most will come to fruition in 2023-2024. However, the uranium exploration in the Omaheke and Hardap regions was dealt a decisive blow towards the end of last year after water minister Calle Schlettwein said no mineral exploration drilling and in-situ leaching activities shall occur in any aquifer.
Schlettwein emphasised that to safeguard the quality of groundwater resources, the policy position is that no mineral exploration drilling and in-situ leaching activities shall occur in any aquifer.
The decision by government did not sit well with Uranium One as they claimed the company had followed all legal procedures and the exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) and environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) were legally obtained.
Furthermore, mines minister, Tom Alweendo, last year said Uranium One Group’s drilling of boreholes is at a halt as the company is waiting for a new permit. Van Rooyen yesterday also confirmed to this publication that government’s position remains the same.
He however remained adamant that once the in-situ recovery (ISR) mine of Uranium One in Namibia becomes a reality, the Omaheke region will see a transformation that will be of astounding proportions.
“The planned mine in Namibia will employ at least 600 employees, with each getting an above-average monthly income, and, therefore, another additional 4 200 secondary jobs will be created. A market for local farmers will be created, which will maximise their profits, as the market will be close to their farms. Without the planned CSR contributions, one looks at a conservative monthly economic injection of at least N$51 000 000 into the region, of which Leonardville will be the main hub. All this could become reality, without harming the ground surface, or the precious water resource,” Van Rooyen maintained.