Orano reinvites govt to desalination talks

OGONE TLHAGEWINDHOEKOrano Mining [formerly Areva] says it is open to renegotiating the terms of sale of its Erongo desalination plant with the government.Orano has since 2014 unsuccessfully tried to sell the plant to the government, which in turn is reviewing options to build its own in a potential partnership with the Botswana government.Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisis recently visited Namibia to discuss the construction of a desalination plant with President Hage Geingob.Plans to build a desalination plant date back to former Botswana president Ian Khama's time in office.Approached for comment, Orano said it was exploring all possibilities regarding its plant.“We remain committed to finding a long-term sustainable solution, and should the Namibian government approach us in this regard, we are open to explore the possibilities,” the company said about discussions regarding a second desalination plant along the Namibian coastline.Orano had previously offered the plant to the government for N$3.5 billion. When asked whether it would reconsider this price, the company said a determination would have to be made.“The market value of the plant is determined by a complex set of parameters, and it is premature to speculate on this aspect at this point in time,” Orano said.The Affirmative Repositioning movement, which had offered to buy the plant, said Orano had not responded to its request, its leader Job Amupanda said.“We have not re-launched a disinvestment process for the Erongo Desalination Plant, following the initial process with government that occurred some years ago,” Orano said.The plant is located 35 kilometres north of Swakopmund and was built by Orano for its Trekkopje uranium mine, which is currently under care and maintenance.

Orano reinvites govt to desalination talks

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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Orano reinvites govt to desalination talks

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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