Phosphate could leave thousands jobless
The fisheries ministry, the fishing industry, Namibia Marine Phosphate and all other interested parties must make new submissions to the environment minister within three months.
Labour expert Herbert Jauch has waded into the phosphate debate, saying that the hundreds of jobs that could be created by this type of mining pales in comparison to the thousands of jobs that could be lost in the fishing sector.
He also compared the risks of phosphate mining to the health problems workers experienced at the Ramatex textile factory before it was closed down in Windhoek some years ago.
Jauch said this yesterday after environment minister Pohamba Shifeta set aside the environmental clearance granted to Namibia Marine Phosphate in September 2016. The clearance was issued by the environmental commissioner, Teofilius Nghitila, for the Sandpiper Project that is located about 120km southwest of Walvis Bay. Local businessman Knowledge Katti is a minority shareholder in the phosphate mining project spearheaded by Omani tycoon Mohammed Al Barwani through his company Mawarid Mining LLC, which owns 85% of NMP. Katti's Havana Investments owns the remaining 15% stake in NMP.
In November that year, the clearance was withdrawn following a public outcry, court applications, and an appeal issued by community activist Michael Gawaseb at the ministry, against the project.
A court case this year ruled that NMP did not have a fair hearing.
A public hearing was then held early this week and yesterday Shifeta ruled that a new process should start.
He said Nghitila should notify the fisheries ministry, the fishing industry and all other interested parties to finalise their inputs and submit them within three months.
“The whole process of consultation should be completed within six months from today,” said Shifeta.
“This order is with immediate effect and binds all parties, directly or indirectly affected.”
David Russell, an expert in the local fishing industry, expressed concern.
“The research decision is good, but it is not enough time to undertake a proper strategic environmental assessment,” he said.
Gawaseb, on the other hand, was delighted about the decision made by the minister and said he could not be happier.
“We are very happy the minister did not base his decision on technicalities, but took into account the impact that phosphate mining can have on the environment,” said Jauch.
Jauch added Gawaseb was alone when he took on a huge company and the decision by the minister showed that individuals can make a difference.
Asked about the benefits that NMP could bring to Namibia, Jauch said that the benefits are not massive for Namibia, but, they could be massive for the company.
“For Namibia the issue was that phosphate mining can create a few hundred jobs, but thousands of jobs could be at risk in the fishing industry. We need to weigh that up and consider if the risk is worth it.”
He referred to the Ramatex scenario. Ramatex closed in 2008 and many workers were left facing health problems.
“I refer to Ramatex because there are certain parallels,” said Jauch. “Not all investments are good investments. We should simply stay clear of it if it has these massive impacts on the environment. Once an ecosystem is destroyed there is no going back.”
Shifeta, while delivering his judgement, gave an overview of the submissions that were made to him on behalf of Gawaseb and NMP.
The grounds of the appeal were based firstly on the devastating, long-lasting adverse impacts on the marine environment and secondly, that phosphate can be extracted from mine tailings.
The precautionary principal was one of the arguments made by Uno Katjipuko, counsel for Gawaseb, and objected to by Advocate Deon Obbes, counsel for NMP, during the hearing.
Shifeta said it is widely known in the environmental fraternity that precautionary principles are part of the environmental law, which operates in areas complicated by high levels of scientific uncertainty. “Precautionary principles have become part of our public international law. Precautionary principles are already in the law, therefore using that does not in any way prejudice the respondent.”
He added the constitution underlines the importance of environment protection.
“I find it essential to give regard to the importance of the environmental protection. Although I agree with Gawaseb on the matter of further public consultation, caution should be taken into account to balance the rights of NMP and the public good.”
Shifeta added the value of the county's natural resources and his responsibility as minister, calls for caution to be applied.
NMP holds mining licence 170 which is located 120km southwest of Walvis Bay, issued on 26 July 2011.
The area for which the certificate applied for covers 2 223km in water depths of between 190 and 300 metres.
This compares to a total ocean area of 580 000 square kilometres.
A target production area was identified at depths greater than 200m. The area to be mined for phosphate covers 0.0003% of Namibia's Excusive Economic Marine Zone.
ELLANIE SMIT
He also compared the risks of phosphate mining to the health problems workers experienced at the Ramatex textile factory before it was closed down in Windhoek some years ago.
Jauch said this yesterday after environment minister Pohamba Shifeta set aside the environmental clearance granted to Namibia Marine Phosphate in September 2016. The clearance was issued by the environmental commissioner, Teofilius Nghitila, for the Sandpiper Project that is located about 120km southwest of Walvis Bay. Local businessman Knowledge Katti is a minority shareholder in the phosphate mining project spearheaded by Omani tycoon Mohammed Al Barwani through his company Mawarid Mining LLC, which owns 85% of NMP. Katti's Havana Investments owns the remaining 15% stake in NMP.
In November that year, the clearance was withdrawn following a public outcry, court applications, and an appeal issued by community activist Michael Gawaseb at the ministry, against the project.
A court case this year ruled that NMP did not have a fair hearing.
A public hearing was then held early this week and yesterday Shifeta ruled that a new process should start.
He said Nghitila should notify the fisheries ministry, the fishing industry and all other interested parties to finalise their inputs and submit them within three months.
“The whole process of consultation should be completed within six months from today,” said Shifeta.
“This order is with immediate effect and binds all parties, directly or indirectly affected.”
David Russell, an expert in the local fishing industry, expressed concern.
“The research decision is good, but it is not enough time to undertake a proper strategic environmental assessment,” he said.
Gawaseb, on the other hand, was delighted about the decision made by the minister and said he could not be happier.
“We are very happy the minister did not base his decision on technicalities, but took into account the impact that phosphate mining can have on the environment,” said Jauch.
Jauch added Gawaseb was alone when he took on a huge company and the decision by the minister showed that individuals can make a difference.
Asked about the benefits that NMP could bring to Namibia, Jauch said that the benefits are not massive for Namibia, but, they could be massive for the company.
“For Namibia the issue was that phosphate mining can create a few hundred jobs, but thousands of jobs could be at risk in the fishing industry. We need to weigh that up and consider if the risk is worth it.”
He referred to the Ramatex scenario. Ramatex closed in 2008 and many workers were left facing health problems.
“I refer to Ramatex because there are certain parallels,” said Jauch. “Not all investments are good investments. We should simply stay clear of it if it has these massive impacts on the environment. Once an ecosystem is destroyed there is no going back.”
Shifeta, while delivering his judgement, gave an overview of the submissions that were made to him on behalf of Gawaseb and NMP.
The grounds of the appeal were based firstly on the devastating, long-lasting adverse impacts on the marine environment and secondly, that phosphate can be extracted from mine tailings.
The precautionary principal was one of the arguments made by Uno Katjipuko, counsel for Gawaseb, and objected to by Advocate Deon Obbes, counsel for NMP, during the hearing.
Shifeta said it is widely known in the environmental fraternity that precautionary principles are part of the environmental law, which operates in areas complicated by high levels of scientific uncertainty. “Precautionary principles have become part of our public international law. Precautionary principles are already in the law, therefore using that does not in any way prejudice the respondent.”
He added the constitution underlines the importance of environment protection.
“I find it essential to give regard to the importance of the environmental protection. Although I agree with Gawaseb on the matter of further public consultation, caution should be taken into account to balance the rights of NMP and the public good.”
Shifeta added the value of the county's natural resources and his responsibility as minister, calls for caution to be applied.
NMP holds mining licence 170 which is located 120km southwest of Walvis Bay, issued on 26 July 2011.
The area for which the certificate applied for covers 2 223km in water depths of between 190 and 300 metres.
This compares to a total ocean area of 580 000 square kilometres.
A target production area was identified at depths greater than 200m. The area to be mined for phosphate covers 0.0003% of Namibia's Excusive Economic Marine Zone.
ELLANIE SMIT
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article