Chinese firm to build explosives factory at Otjiwarongo

Civil rights movement Action Forum Namibia has voiced strong disapproval of the planned explosives factory at Otjiwarongo by Chinese mining company Beifang.

It has cited environmental and community safety concerns.

Beifang secured the municipality-approved site in 2020 with a renewable lease and aims to finalise the construction of the factory by the end of the year.

However, Jackie Visagie, the executive manager of Action Forum, has criticised the lack of sufficient information provided to the public to make informed decisions about the factory.

“It is in the public’s best interest to object to the proposed explosives factory which has been cited for construction within the greater Otjiwarongo municipal district, as it potentially poses both a health and safety risk to the inhabitants of Otjiwarongo, should it not be properly governed,” she says.

Although the company has been on the site since 2020, the Namibian Police approved the project only last year, and it is still awaiting operational licensing.

“The Namibian Police Explosives Control Division is aware of the structure or establishment of the plant facility as it was approved last year, however, not yet licensed,” national police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi says.

So far, Beifang has completed the inner and outer fencing of the site, constructed concrete floors, and arranged containers as per approval from the Namibia Police Explosives Unit.

Paul Rooi, an adviser to Beifang’s managing director, says an explosives-manufacturing facility plans to commence operations next year, pending the Namibian Police’s approval and the renewal of the commpany’s environmental clearance certificate.

“The environmental clearance certificate is valid up to 2024 and will be renewed then. Once the construction is completed, before the end of the year, the company will have to again apply to the Namibian Police’s explosive unit for the renewal of our permit, which has lapsed,” Rooi says.

Addressing concerns about waste disposal, Rooi says there would be no waste as all products would be packaged in boxes and distributed to authorised explosives users in the vicinity.

He says the explosives will be used internally by the company for blasting contracts secured from local mines.

Upon becoming operational, Beifang intends to engage a local security company to provide around-the-clock security at the site.

Beifang, a subsidiary of the Chinese arms conglomerate, Norinco, is positioning itself to retain its status as a leading supplier of explosives for uranium mining
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This strategic move comes in the wake of reports from international media in 2021, indicating Beifang’s plans to establish a production unit in Namibia to cater to the demand of Chinese uranium miners.

The environment ministry confirmed that the company has been issued an environmental clearance certificate valid from 2022 to 2025.
Meanwhile, the Otjiwarongo municipality has confirmed that Beifang has been operating on a renewable one-year lease basis at the municipality’s Camp 3 site.

According to Gotlieb Nghinongelwa, the community development manager at the municipality, the municipality advertised the lease agreement and intended activity for Beifang to establish an explosives factory in 2020, and no objections were received at the time.

“The council has registered three objections so far. The merit and substance of these objections have not yet been dealt with by the council due to time, however, this will be done in due course as well,” he says.

Nghinongelwa says Beifang has an approved environmental clearance certificate in place and has complied with the Explosives Act.

He says the council has approved of Beifang entering into a five-year lease agreement with the municipality for administrative and expedience reasons.

“This is subject to ministerial approval, therefore this lease of five years has not been signed yet. The council will in due course undertake the same,” Nghinongelwa says.

Beifang assumed control of mining operations at Rössing Uranium for a 13-year period in May.

The agreement gradually transfers control to Beifang, with full authority expected by 2027.

Deputy leader of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters Kalimbo Iipumbu acknowledged the potential employment opportunities that this project might create, but emphasised the importance of establishing trust with Beifang.

“We may need to know the safety of such a factory and its feasibility. This is yet another gift to the Chinese. They have taken control of operations at Rössing too,” Iipumbu said.