Namdeb turns to renewable energy

Namibia biggest land mining diamond operator, Namdeb, is set on a project to source up to 50% of the current high-carbon electricity footprint from renewable wind energy.

The entity announced this last week, citing it was a neccessary push to follow through with the country’s decarbonisation efforts in maintaining global temperature rise at below 2°C.

Lionel Coetzee, Namdeb’s head of strategic projects, says as part of the carbon neutrality journey, Namdeb commenced with early investigations into a potential wind energy facility in 2020, which resulted in the successful installation of wind measurement masts to ascertain potential.

“This led to the identification of a site approximately 45km north of Oranjemund within the Southern Coastal Mine (Mining License 43) for a wind energy facility (WEF) with the capacity of replacing up to 50% of the current high-carbon electricity footprint with renewable wind energy,” he says.

Coetzee says the work has progressed to a point where Namdeb would now apply for an environmental clearance certificate for a 34MW wind energy facility from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

The recent Namdeb life-of-mine extension ensures the mine is able to continue to contribute to Namibia’s prosperity while providing approximately 2 600 employees and business partners with employment.

This extension has furthermore paved the way for the establishment of the WEF, which not only expands Namdeb’s carbon reduction ambitions, but would also contribute to the socio-economic development of Oranjemund and surrounding communities.

Riaan Burger, Namdeb’s chief executive officer, says the project would significantly benefit local businesses through its construction and operational phases, and enable local renewable energy skills development.

Envusa Energy, a new independent power producer formed by the leading global mining company Anglo American Plc and EDF Renewables are leading the development of the WEF.

– Email: bottomline@namibian.com.na