University of Namibia (Unam) master’s of business administration (MBA) students last week embarked on a field trip to explore governance issues relating to mining operations at Leonardville.
The village is situated in the Omaheke region.
The visit, which was pioneered by Headspring Investments, aimed to deepen students’ understanding of in-situ recovery mining and provided first-hand insights into the challenges and opportunities of sustainable mining.
Headspring Investments operations director Aldo Hengari says the trip was not only about observing, but also critically engaging with the complex interplay between economic development and environmental stewardship.
Headspring Investments is a locally registered operating company owned by Uranium One Group, which is in turn owned by Russian state energy company Rosatom.
Rosatom has been exploring for uranium in the Omaheke region.
Hengari says in-situ recovery is environmentally friendly, efficient and cost-effective.
“Moreover, it unlocks the potential of extracting uranium from previously challenging low-grade sandstone-hosted deposits, presenting novel opportunities for uranium mining,” he says.
FUTURE LEADERS
Speaking at the tour, Marius Johannes, the head of the Unam delegation, emphasised the importance of the field visit in educating responsible business leaders preparing to tackle challenges.
“We’re preparing these future leaders not just to manage businesses, but to reshape them around sustainability principles.
“Our goal is to cultivate a new generation of managers who are not only skilled in business, but are also stewards of environmental integrity and social responsibility,” he says.
Johannes says the visit to the ‘Wings’ project is just one of many steps Unam is taking to integrate practical, on-the-ground experiences into its curriculum, ensuring its graduates are well-equipped to lead in the complex landscape of modern business and sustainability.
MBA student Eradius Mwaetako, who has a decade of frontline experience in mining, says: “This project is about more than just a source of uranium, it’s also a test of our commitment to Leonardville and surrounds.”
Another MBA student says: “The visit clarified the practical challenges of implementing sustainable practices in environments that are as demanding as they are fragile.
The trip culminated in a reflective session where students expressed their enhanced understanding of the materials covered in their coursework at the Namibia Business School.
Unam MBA student Clarence-Nocky Kaapehi says: “This experience bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, highlighting the nuanced realities of the mining sector in Namibia.”
Headspring Investments has so far promised hundreds of jobs should the company reach mining operations.
However, the Namibian government has denied the company drilling permits to proceed due to concerns that the envisaged mine could contaminate the Stampriet Artesian Basin, which expands into Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho.
Uranium One has long claimed that red flags from the public were based on “generalisations, incorrect assumptions and slanderous false accusations”.
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