The Chamber of Mines of Namibia will host the 11th Mining Expo and Conference from 7 to 8 August at the Windhoek Showgrounds.
According to chief executive Veston Malango, last year’s expo saw good participation but this year is expected to break the record.
“We’ve already surpassed last year’s record-breaking participation, with 145 companies booked and 242 booths reserved,” says Malango.
“The event promises a diverse range of exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge innovations that are propelling the industry forward.”
According to Malango, the expo will serve as a central hub for industry professionals, suppliers and stakeholders to connect and explore the latest developments in Namibia’s mining sector.
The expo will have a mining conference, a supplier’s platform and a business-to-business networking session. The expo’s theme, ‘Green Shoots for Namibia’s Mining Industry: a Season of Opportunity and Growth to Drive Economic Expansion’, reflects the renewed optimism surrounding the sector.
“In 2023, the mining industry experienced impressive growth, contributing significantly to our national gross domestic product (GDP) and employment,” says Malango.
“We saw an 18,9% growth rate, pushing our contribution to GDP from 11,9% to 14,4%. This translates to not only a stronger economy but also the creation of new jobs. Direct employment within the mining sector rose by 12,6% compared to 2022.”
In 2023, the total taxes paid by the mining sector amounted to N$6,861 billion, marking a significant increase of 55,9% from N$4,401 billion in 2022.
According to Malango, a key driver of this growth is the resurgence of the global uranium market.
“This positive trend is expected to translate into increased production at Namibia’s cornerstone uranium mines. We’re also anticipating the resumption of operations at Langer Heinrich and the development of new projects, namely; Bannerman’s Etango-8 Project and Deep Yellow’s Tumas Project.”
Malango says the expo will also highlight the development of new projects in battery minerals and precious metals.
Namibia is also set to see the development of its third gold mine, the Twin Hills project, subject to regulatory approval.
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