Councillor to push for Uis lithium factory

Dâures councillor Kennedy !Hauseb has added to calls to set up a lithium factory at Uis in the Erongo region.

“I will also move a motion in the National Council maybe next week to discuss lithium mining, and see whether we can have factories or the processing of raw materials in the country,” he told The Namibian yesterday.

Lithium, which is used in electric vehicle batteries, is at the centre of a global scramble.

To fight climate change, more countries are requiring automakers to produce electric cars, sending prices soaring for a mineral of which the production is dominated by China.

This will be the second motion to be introduced in parliament, following a similar motion introduced in the National Assembly by Henny Seibeb, the deputy leader of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM).

Uis has become the focus of Namibian lithium mining. This was after AfriTin Mining claimed it has found the world’s largest deposit of lithium.

!Hauseb, from the United Democratic Front, in the National Council said the community is not benefiting from the region’s natural wealth.

“Currently, as we speak, the investor can come and take whatever he wants. He only needs that consent letter from the traditional authority or the minister. So, we’re saying at least give a certain percentage of shares to the community,” he said.

The councillor advised lithium miners at Uis to emulate the Dâures green hydrogen project, which has given shares to the Uis community.

!Hauseb said the company which is setting up a green hydrogen pilot project at Uis has given 7,5% of ownership to the Dâures Daman Traditional Authority, and 2,5% to the Tsiseb conservancy.

“Both the institutions belong to the community. At least that’s something in a positive direction,” he said.

The National Assembly last week adopted Seibeb’s motion on lithium mining at Uis. It has since been referred to a parliamentary select committee which is expected to travel to the Dâures constituency.

In his motivation, Seibeb called for a ban on lithium mining to determine the value chain of the industry.

He also called for steps towards value-addition by establishing a lithium factory, with 60% of community ownership.

“If we calculate the value of of our lithium ore and add value to it at Uis, we could provide jobs for all the capable people at Uis, Omatjete, Okombahe, /Uikrens, Tubusis and nearby settlements in Erongo and Kunene.

“We might even be able to attract workers from other parts of the country,” he said.

Seibeb said the communities at Uis and Omatjete are voicing concerns over illegal lithium mining.

He claimed that lithium mining is “characterised by corruption and predator politics”.

“Chinese businesses like Xinfeng are reportedly involved in the illegal mining, along with some exclusive prospecting licence holders and even some political allies of the ruling establishment,” he said.

“There is a trust deficit because these powerful government officials provide asymmetrical information to the communities,” he said, while accusing the officials of working with illegal miners and traditional leaders.

Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani has praised Seibeb for the motion.

Venaani said despite holding 36% of the world’s minerals, African countries remain impoverished owing to resource mismanagement and undermanagement.

“It is time that politicians from both sides of the house start debating critical motions that ought to be a game changer in the lives of our people. And I think one such motion is this one,” he said.