NMP judgment postponed again
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) says that the handing down of the judgment in a court case that challenges the legitimacy of its Sandpiper mining license near Walvis Bay has been postponed to June 30.
The court application was launched by the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations and three other parties in 2016.
According to NMP the reason offered to it by the court for the latest postponement is that judgment is not ready due to coronavirus implications.
The handing down of the judgment was set down for 16 June.
Postponements
An initial hearing was held in July 2020 and the court case has since been postponed from 8 March to 12 April, to 11 May and then to 16 June.
NMP said in a statement that it has full confidence in the Namibian legal system and that it remains confident of a positive outcome.
The matter has over the years pitted the fisheries ministry against the environment ministry, with each trying to protect their turf.
The project has been in limbo since 2012, owing to environmental objections, with its environmental clearance certificate having been set aside after being awarded in 2016.
NMP management had previously indicated that, with one of the world’s largest underdeveloped phosphate resources, establishing a phosphate-based industry could position Namibia to meet the future global demand for phosphate to fuel the electric vehicle battery market.
It also promised thousands of jobs.
“NMP would be only one company within a new phosphate-based industry and this new industry has the potential to contribute up to 9% to Namibia’s gross domestic product and create over 50 000 direct and indirect jobs.”
WINDHOEK
Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) says that the handing down of the judgment in a court case that challenges the legitimacy of its Sandpiper mining license near Walvis Bay has been postponed to June 30.
The court application was launched by the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations and three other parties in 2016.
According to NMP the reason offered to it by the court for the latest postponement is that judgment is not ready due to coronavirus implications.
The handing down of the judgment was set down for 16 June.
Postponements
An initial hearing was held in July 2020 and the court case has since been postponed from 8 March to 12 April, to 11 May and then to 16 June.
NMP said in a statement that it has full confidence in the Namibian legal system and that it remains confident of a positive outcome.
The matter has over the years pitted the fisheries ministry against the environment ministry, with each trying to protect their turf.
The project has been in limbo since 2012, owing to environmental objections, with its environmental clearance certificate having been set aside after being awarded in 2016.
NMP management had previously indicated that, with one of the world’s largest underdeveloped phosphate resources, establishing a phosphate-based industry could position Namibia to meet the future global demand for phosphate to fuel the electric vehicle battery market.
It also promised thousands of jobs.
“NMP would be only one company within a new phosphate-based industry and this new industry has the potential to contribute up to 9% to Namibia’s gross domestic product and create over 50 000 direct and indirect jobs.”
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