President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has reiterated her administration’s stance on mineral value addition and beneficiation, describing it as a cornerstone of Namibia’s economic transformation strategy.
During her first familiarisation visit to the Rössing Uranium Mine at Arandis on Saturday, Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that her visit was a signal of the government’s renewed commitment to ensure that natural resources meaningfully improve the lives of Namibians, especially youth.
“It shall not be business as usual and in the Swapo Party manifesto, we identified natural resources beneficiation as a key catalyst for economic transformation and job creation for our young people.
“I am here to ensure that the mining sector transforms the livelihoods of our people by becoming the bedrock on which we build an industrial and manufacturing base,” she stressed.
The president commended Rössing Uranium’s resilience and welcomed the extension of the mine’s life from 2027 to 2036, aligning it with the national agenda of value addition to drive sustainable development.
She urged the mining sector to go beyond extraction and actively contribute to socio-economic development.
“We want mining companies to invest in local economies by supporting job creation, training, scholarships, internships and youth entrepreneurship,” she said, adding that workers deserve living wages, decent housing and dignified retirement benefits.
She further called on Rössing Uranium to prioritise sustainable mining practices that promote environmental stewardship and community upliftment, and acknowledged the contributions of the Rössing Foundation in education, health, agriculture and community development.
The president championed a mixed energy policy and emphasised the peaceful use of Namibia’s uranium.
“Let us move towards the realisation of a nuclear power plant in Namibia. We need clean and reliable energy to lift our people out of poverty,” she said.
Rössing Uranium board chairperson, Steve Galloway echoed the president’s sentiments, affirming the alignment between the company’s vision and national development goals.
“Our majority shareholder, CNNC/CNUC, thinks strategically and long-term, they think Namibia,” he said.
Galloway hailed the mine’s recent performance as among the best in its 49-year history, with the board recently extending the mine’s life to at least 2036.
He noted Namibia’s emerging position as a global uranium leader, with potential to become the second-largest producer after Kazakhstan.
He emphasised the need for a fair “government take” from resource rents that balances the interests of Namibians and investors, calling for an evidence-based, consultative approach.
Managing director Johan Coetzee outlined the mine’s technical and operational achievements, noting that the Phase 4 expansion, launched in 2024, will extend operations to 2036.
With a workforce that is 98.7% Namibian, Rössing continues to explore additional zones like Z17, Z19, and Z20 for further longevity.
Coetzee, however, acknowledged safety challenges in 2024, including a fatality and an increased number of injuries linked to expansion activities.
“Significant efforts have been made to address these elevated risks,” he said.
- Nampa
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