Phosphate submissions close next week
Interested and affected parties have until 28 September to submit their inputs on an environmental impact assessment report for a marine phosphate mining project located near Walvis Bay.
The environment ministry announced the closing date last Friday on its webpage.
“The environmental assessment report and all other relevant documents related to Namibian Marine Phosphate Mining License No. 170 are available for inspection at the Office of the Environmental Commissioner,” it said.
Therefore all interested and affected parties are invited to inspect and submit their comments in writing to the ministry on or before 17:00 on 28 September.
This follows a ruling on 21 June by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, when he set aside the environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate on September 2016.
The clearance certificate was issued by environmental commissioner Theofillius Nghitila for the so-called Sandpiper Project that is located about 120 km southwest of Walvis Bay.
In November 2017, the clearance certificate was withdrawn following a public outcry, court applications and an appeal by community activist Michael Gawaseb.
A court ruled earlier this year that NMP was not given a fair hearing when their certificate was withdrawn, and therefore Shifeta decided to hold a public hearing on the matter.
Delivering his judgment on the matter, Shifeta said the certificate granted to NMP was set aside.
He said the environmental commissioner 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.”
ELLANIE SMIT
The environment ministry announced the closing date last Friday on its webpage.
“The environmental assessment report and all other relevant documents related to Namibian Marine Phosphate Mining License No. 170 are available for inspection at the Office of the Environmental Commissioner,” it said.
Therefore all interested and affected parties are invited to inspect and submit their comments in writing to the ministry on or before 17:00 on 28 September.
This follows a ruling on 21 June by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, when he set aside the environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate on September 2016.
The clearance certificate was issued by environmental commissioner Theofillius Nghitila for the so-called Sandpiper Project that is located about 120 km southwest of Walvis Bay.
In November 2017, the clearance certificate was withdrawn following a public outcry, court applications and an appeal by community activist Michael Gawaseb.
A court ruled earlier this year that NMP was not given a fair hearing when their certificate was withdrawn, and therefore Shifeta decided to hold a public hearing on the matter.
Delivering his judgment on the matter, Shifeta said the certificate granted to NMP was set aside.
He said the environmental commissioner 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.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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