No phosphate mining without ECC

ELLANIE SMITWINDHOEKNamibian Marine Phosphate’s planned Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project was dealt another blow yesterday when the High Court ordered that no activities may proceed without an environmental clearance certificate (ECC).Judge Harald Geier issued the court order in a case in which the legality of an earlier ECC issued to the company is questioned.The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Association, the Namibian Hake Association, the Midwater Trawling Association and Omualu Fishing brought the legal action against the company in 2016.They requested the court to order that NMP did not apply for an ECC within the period prescribed by the Environmental Management Act.They argued, therefore, that the company’s mining licence, issued on 8 July 2011, expired on 5 February 2013 and is now invalid.Judge Geier found that NMP did not apply in the prescribed manner for an ECC during the relevant time and is currently without an ECC.He therefore declared that NMP may not undertake phosphate mining operations until it has obtained a valid ECC.Back to square oneEnvironmental commissioner Timo Mufeti told Namibian Sun that if NMP wanted to apply for a new ECC, they would have to re-submit everything.He said although most of their environmental studies were completed, the situation has changed and therefore they would need to update these.New consultations would also need to be held, said Mufeti.The project has been on hold since 2012, owing to environmental objections, with its environmental clearance certificate having been set aside after being awarded in 2016.Grand ambitionsNMP management had previously claimed that establishing a phosphate 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.“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,” the company said.Shareholders claim they have invested more than N$780 million in NMP.

No phosphate mining without ECC

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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No phosphate mining without ECC

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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