Phosphate mining back on the cards

ELLANIE SMIT WINDHOEKNamibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) has already put in motion the process for applying for another environmental clearance certificate (ECC) for the planned Sandpiper marine phosphate project near Walvis Bay.According a public notice placed in a daily newspaper, an environmental assessment and public hearing will take place for the proposed project.This after the High Court last year issued a court order that no activities may proceed at the project without an ECC.The court found that NMP did not apply in the prescribed manner for the certificate during the relevant time and was without an ECC.The court, however, declined to declare its mining licence invalid.At the time, NMP said its mining licence (ML170) and the rights conferred to the company thereunder are not affected by the findings of the court and remains valid.The legal proceedings were aimed at challenging the validity of the licence, which was issued by the mines ministry in July 2011.Register to attendNMP has now contracted Environmental Compliance Consultancy to revise and update the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for dredging of marine phosphate material within ML170.“An application for an ECC in accordance with the Environmental Management Act will be made for the proposed Sandpiper Phosphate Project on ML170,” the notice read. It invited members of the public to register as an interested and/or affected party to attend a public meeting and provide input into the application process.The proposed project will entail dredging and recovery of marine phosphate sediments using a trailing suction hopper dredger from water depths of between 190 to 275 metres, it added.Sampling for mineral resources and ore reserve development and environmental surveys and monitoring will also be included“The proposed project will involve mining of approximately 2.5 square kilometres yearly, that equates to 0.0003% of the seabed within Namibia’s exclusive economic zone, coexisting with marine diamond mining and the fishing industry,” the notice said.Employment opportunitiesThe project will recover approximately 5.5 million tons of ore annually for onshore beneficiation to produce three million tonnes of phosphate concentration per annum, it read.Over 600 Namibians will be employed, both directly and indirectly, for construction and operations in Walvis Bay.The first public meeting will be held in Windhoek on 9 February at the Scientific Society, while a second meeting will take place in Walvis Bay on 11 February at the Walvis Bay Town Hall.The project has been in limbo since 2012, owing to environmental objections, with NMP’s ECC having been set aside after being awarded in 2016.ellanie@namibiansun.com

Phosphate mining back on the cards

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Phosphate mining back on the cards

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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