Phosphate mining back to drawing board
Minister Pohamba Shifeta has cancelled the environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibia Marine Phosphate in September 2016. The environment minister instructed that all interested parties must finalise their inputs within three months and the consultation process must be completed within six months starting today. “The order is with immediate effect and binds all parties directly or indirectly affected,” he said. Pohamba made the ruling this morning following a public hearing on Monday where the minister heard submissions from NMP and community activist Michael Gawaseb, who had appealed against the clearance. The environmental clearance for the Sandpiper Project, located about 120km southwest of Walvis Bay, was issued by the ministry’s environmental commissioner, Theofillius Nghitila, on 5 September 2016. In November that year the clearance was withdrawn following a public outcry, court applications and an appeal lodged by Gawaseb. A court case this year ruled that NMP did not have a fair hearing when the clearance was withdrawn and therefore Shifeta decided to hold a public hearing on the matter.
Ellanie Smit
Ellanie Smit
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