The Ministry of Mines and Energy has taken steps, including opening a police case, against Chinese company Xinfeng Investment.
The company was found to be illegally carrying out mining operations in the Uis area.
This was said in a statement released by the ministry on Wednesday following outcry by members of the public, particularly the community of Uis in the Erongo region.
They accused Xinfeng of causing harmful environmental damage due to the alleged mining activities and desecration of ancestral graves.
The company was found to be using an exclusive prospecting licence 8397 to mine for lithium instead of doing exploration work during an unannounced inspection by the Office of the Mining Commissioner on 16 November .
According to the statement, the ministry has already invoked some of the penalty measures provided in terms of section three of the Minerals Act which deals with conducting unauthorised mining activities, pending the conclusion of investigations.
“The ministry is conducting a prompt inspection of the alleged activities at the site and will hold the executive management of Xinfeng Investment accountable for its action and inaction,” says the statement.
The ministry also ordered the immediate cessation of all mining activities by Xinfeng Investment and will continue monitoring the company’s activities closely.
“The ministry opened a police case for the observed illegal mining activities, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities for proportionate investigation on the unauthorised activities,” said the ministry.
The ministry urged members of the public to allow the ongoing investigations to conclude but encouraged reporting of any similar abuses perpetrated by those granted mineral and energy resources rights.
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