MINING AND ENERGY THE NAMIBIAN ECONOMY IS BUILT ON ITS MINING INDUSTRY. NAMIBIA IS A ESTABLISHED PRODUCER OF GEM QUALITY ROUGH DIAMONDS, URANIUM
OXIDE, SPECIAL HIGH-GRADE ZINC, GOLD BULLION, BLISTER COPPER AND LEAD CONCENTRATE AS WELL AS SALT AND DIMENSION STONE. A number of world-class companies, which
coast of Namibia with the main land-based
Langer Heinrich Uranium (Pty) Ltd is a member
use state-of-the-art mining and processing
operations in Oranjemund and satellite
of the Paladin Energy Ltd group of companies
technologies, are members of the Chamber
mines near Lüderitz and on the Orange River.
and the corporate entity that holds the
of Mines (CoM). Namibia’s Chamber of Mines
Several types of innovative and specialised
group’s 100% interest in the Langer Heinrich
was formed in 1969 with the sole mandate
mining techniques such as vacuum
Mine. The mine is also located in the Namib
to protect the interests of its members while
extractors, dredgers, floating treatment
Desert, at the foot of the Langer Heinrich
promoting sustainable growth of mining and
plants and probe drilling platforms are used
Mountain and close to the Port of Walvis Bay
exploration in order to maximise economic
to extract diamonds from alluvial deposits of
and the seaside town of Swakopmund.
gain for Namibia as a whole.
ore bodies.
The not-for-profit organisation functions as
Debmarine Namibia launched its N$2.3 billion
world-class uranium mine, the Husab mine,
an advocacy body which acts as the mining
exploration vessel, the mv SS Nujoma, on 9
near Swakopmund. Once in full production,
industry’s voice towards government and
January 2016 in Norway. The new vessel is
Husab will be one of the largest uranium
other institutions. Based on its influence
scheduled for commissioning in Namibian
mines in the world.
and deliberations on policies affecting the
waters in the first half of 2017.
The Husab mine’s potential output is
Swakop Uranium is currently constructing a
sector, the Chamber aims at sustaining and maintaining a regulatory environment which attracts investment and promotes the growth of the Namibian mining industry.
URANIUM – THE METAL OF TOMORROW
Nuclear power accounts for 5.7% of the world’s energy consumption and 13% of the world’s
more than Namibia’s current total uranium production and will make Namibia the world’s number three uranium producer.
B2GOLD NAMIBIA (PTY) LTD.
Five major companies account for 95% of the
electricity. Uranium, the fuel for nuclear power,
mining income. Diamond and uranium mining
is a relatively clean source of energy that does
of B2Gold Corp. The remaining 10% is owned
are by far the two most vital industries in
not produce greenhouse emissions.
by EVI Mining, a Namibian broad-based
Namibia.
B2Gold Namibia is a 90% owned subsidiary
economic empowerment group. B2Gold Rio Tinto’s Rössing Uranium and Paladin’s
Namibia’s portfolio includes the Otjikoto Mine
Langer Heinrich are currently the only uranium
in north-central Namibia as well as extensive
Namdeb Holdings, which produces some of
producing mines in Namibia. Together they
base metal concessions in northern Namibia.
the finest gem diamonds, is jointly owned
contribute roughly 5 per cent to the world’s
Otjikoto is located east of the B1 highway
(50:50) by the Government of the Republic of
uranium oxide output. In 2015 Rössing Uranium
between the towns of Otavi and Otjiwarongo.
Namibia (GRN) and the world’s number one
produced 1,245 tons of uranium oxide, i.e. 2%
diamond producer, De Beers. Thanks to the
of the world’s total uranium output.
B2Gold runs a well-established Corporate
DIAMOND MINING
technical expertise of Debmarine Namibia,
Social Responsibility Programme that aims to
diamonds are increasingly mined on the ocean
The Rössing Mine is one of the largest and
promote responsible mining. The company
floor. Further value is added by about 11
oldest open pit uranium mines in the world. It
invests in projects that have a long-term,
diamond cutting and manufacturing factories
is located in the Namib Desert, 65 km east of
lasting impact. A great source of pride in this
which utilise some 16 percent of Namdeb’s
Swakopmund, near the town of Arandis. Last
regard is the B2Gold Namibia Game Farm
diamond production.
year Rössing Uranium celebrated 40 years of
and Education Centre. B2Gold has turned
Operations are centred along the southwest
production.
more than 16,000 ha of previously over-grazed
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