Mining in Namibia

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Navachab gold mine near Karibib

The mining industry in Namibia plays a dominant economic role. Namibia is rich in mineral resources, some of which have been mined for more than 110 years.

With a share of 11.9 percent of the gross domestic product (2015) and 41 percent of export revenues (2012), mining was the most important industry in Namibia.

Mining sector

Dioptas from the region around Tsumeb

General

Namibia is one of the world's leading mining nations for diamonds , uranium , zinc and fluorspar . In addition, gold , copper , lead and salt as well as numerous other minerals are mined. As of December 31, 2019, 9,000 people were permanently employed in mining. A further 7,300 were employed on a temporary basis.

The entire Namibian mining sector is subject to the responsible ministry for mining and energy . All active mining companies are members of the Chamber of Mines The Chamber of Mines of Namibia . As of September 2014 there are 105 members.

The Namibian government has been carrying out far-reaching changes in mining legislation since 2009. Among other things, the state-owned company Epangelo Mining was granted exclusive rights to explore and mine selected raw materials. However, this is only applied to new mining licenses and not to existing licenses.

Mining-related activities only began in what is now Namibia at the beginning of the 20th century. The lead-zinc-copper deposit of Tsumeb was explored by German geologists from 1907. The accidental discovery of diamonds in the sand dunes and the weathering rubble of existing rocks between Lüderitz and Aus in what was then German South West Africa took place a year later and triggered organized exploration work along the Atlantic coast . Further geoscientific investigations followed shortly before the First World War and afterwards.

In 2019 there were 16 active mining companies operating in 25 mines.

Diamonds

Diamonds (namdeb)
year carat
in millions
2019 1,670  
2018 2.008  
2017 1.804  
2016 1,570  
2015 > 1,764  
2014 > 1.917  
2013 1.762378  
2012 1.659408  
2011 1.336000  
2010 1.522000  
2009 0.929000  
2008 2,132165  
2007 2.177516  
2006 2.084800  
2005 1,774000  
2004 1.858383  
2003 1.454706  
2002 1,275899  
2001 1.384704  
2000 1.320308  
Source: Annual Review 2016,
The Namibia Chamber of Mines,
pp. 84–85 ( available online ; PDF; 8 MB).

Diamonds were mined in the area of ​​what is now Namibia as early as the times of German South West Africa . In 1908, a railroad worker discovered the first diamonds in what is now the restricted area national park in the south-west of the country. During the coming years diamonds were in large quantities in open cast mining gained and developed towns like the city Kolmanskuppe . After diamond mining became more difficult and less profitable and the diamond restricted area was proclaimed, people moved from the former diamond cities to other parts of the country. In the mid-1990s, exploration in the Atlantic Ocean was the main priority. Today about two thirds of all Namibian diamonds are extracted from the alluvial soils of the Atlantic. The Namibian diamonds are by far the purest and most expensive in the world. 98% of them are jewelry diamonds. The carat price of Namibian diamonds is almost US $ 450 per carat, more than twice that of Canadian diamonds.

Today, Namibia is one of the ten largest diamond producers in the world with an annual mining volume of 1.8 million carats (as of 2017) . Almost all Namibian diamonds are monopoly mined by the Namdeb Diamond Corporation , to which De Beers Marine Namibia also belongs.

The umbrella organization of the diamond producers is the Diamond Board of Namibia .

Mining companies and mines

Fluorite ( fluorspar )

Fluorite , also known as fluorspar among miners , has been mined in Namibia about 50 kilometers northwest of the city of Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa region on the edge of an inactive volcano of Okorusu Fluorspar since 1988. The company is part of the international Solvay group . In August 2009, due to the low global demand, mining was stopped until October of the same year. Until then, Okorusu had produced around 120,000 tons of fluorspar per year. The mine, which is the largest in the world (as of October 2014), was temporarily closed completely on October 28, 2014.

gold

gold
year kilogram
2017 7272 B2Gold: 5429 Navachab: 1843  
 
 
2016 6592  
2015 6009  
2014 2140  
2013 1795  
2012 2287  
2011 2063  
2010 2773  
Source: Annual Review 2016,
Namibia Chamber of Mines,
p. 16 ( available online ; PDF; 8 MB)

Gold mining in Namibia takes place in the Navachab mine near the municipality of Karibib in the Erongo region. The sole license holder is the South African mining company AngloGold Ashanti . Exploration of the deposits began in 1984. In 1989, operations began as the only gold mine in the country. The mine is said to run until 2018. In 2016, 1,878 kilograms were lost, in 2017 it was 1,843.

Production in the Otjikoto mine began in December 2014 . This B2Gold mine produced 4,714 kilograms in 2016, a year later it was already 5429 kilograms.

copper

Copper is mined in Namibia by Weatherly International , formerly Ongopolo Mining and Processing . The Otjihase and Matchless mines near Windhoek were primarily available for this purpose. Both were closed for the time being in 2015. The Khusib mine (Tschudi) began production in 2015. 16,391 tons of copper were produced here in 2016, and 15,466 tons in 2017.

In the record years in the mid-1990s, more than 230,000 tons of copper concentrate were mined. From 2005 to 2011, however, the dismantling was almost completely stopped. In 2008, only 9,000 tonnes could be extracted. In 2010 the mines started up again.

The construction of another mine with three open-cast mines, 120 kilometers northeast of Windhoek by the company Craton is planned (as of June 2017). The occurrence is given with at least 700,000 tons.

The smelting takes place mainly through Tsumeb Smelter (formerly Namibia Customs Smelter place), in 2009 21,543 tons of blister copper have made.

salt

Salt is extracted in Namibia's salt pans, among others by the company Salt & Chemicals , a subsidiary of Walvis Bay Salt Holdings near Walvis Bay . The processing takes place by the subsidiary Walvis Bay Salt Refiners . Production began in 1964. In 2016, almost 700,000 tons of salt were produced, in 2017 it was more than 735,000 tons.

The Salt Company has been producing salt on the Namibian coast since 1934. The company is owned by the Klein family. In 2016 almost 137,000 salt were extracted, a year later 144,500 tons.

Rock salt is also mined in Namibia.

uranium

Rössing mine near Arandis
uranium
year metric tons
2017 4981 Rössing: 2110 Langer Heinrich: 1526 Husab: 1345  
 
 
 
2016 4086  
2015 3453  
2014 3839  
2013 4878  
2012 5005  
2011 3831  
2010 5306  
2009 5320  
2008 5119  
2007 3367  
2006 3617  
2005 3711  
2004 3582  
2003 2401  
2002 2751  
2001 2640  
2000 3210
Source:

Namibia is one of the four largest nations in uranium mining worldwide and has the largest uranium mine in the world, the Rössing mine , which can be used well beyond 2023. Other large deposits have been explored since the mid-2000s in the Erongo region , particularly around Goanikontes in the Namib-Naukluft Park . The Husab mine was officially declared the fourth largest uranium deposit in the world on June 7, 2011. According to the operator Swakop Uranium , it is the second largest uranium mine in the world.

The protection of the environment plays a key role in the exploitation of the deposits. The construction of a chemical plant and a port for 12 billion Namibian dollars near Walvis Bay is planned for further use of the deposits .

Mining companies and mines

Rössing Uranium Limited has been mining the world's largest uranium mine Rössing near Arandis since 1977 . In 2016 the output was 1,850 tons.

Another sponsor of uranium is Langer Heinrich Uranium . It is a 100 percent subsidiary of Paladin Energy . Uranium has been mined in the Langer Heinrich mine , around 40 kilometers from Rössing, since 2007 . The company is likely to extract and export yellowcake until 2024. In 2016, 2,236 tons were extracted, which is the fourth year in a row more than von Rössing. The mine was put into care and maintenance in April 2018 .

As a third company, AREVA Resources Namibia , a subsidiary of the French AREVA Group, has received a license to mine uranium from the Trekkopje mine . After receiving the license in June 2008, construction of the infrastructure and a seawater desalination plant at Wlotzkasbaken began in 2009 . AREVA stopped all activities in 2015, even before the mine was commissioned.

Swakop Uranium , a subsidiary of Extract Resources, started mining in the Rössing-Süd mine (Husab) on December 30, 2016 and has since become the third largest uranium producer in the world.

The Australian company Marenicy Energy announced in May 2018 that it would be mining at the Mile 72 mine. You expect high quantities and the best quality.

Zinc and lead

Zinc Mine Scorpio (2017) World icon
Zinc Mine Rosh Pinah (2017) World icon

Skorpion Zinc , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vedanta Resources , mines zinc in the Skorpion mine 25 kilometers north of the mining town of Rosh Pinah in the south of the country. Production started in 2001 and is expected to end in 2020. In 2015, 82,029 tons of zinc were mined, in 2017 it was 84,215 tons.

Zinc and lead have also been mined by the Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation in the Rosh Pinah mine since 1969. The largest shareholder is the Canadian Trevali Mining Corporation . The mine is said to run until 2031. In 2015, 99,665 tons of zinc and 18,521 tons of lead were extracted, in 2017 97,364 tons of zinc and 13,915 tons of lead.

Namibia is one of the 20 largest zinc producers in the world .

mineral oil and natural gas

Legally, all oil and gas exploration and extraction is administered and monitored by the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), which reports to the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Currently (as of June 2017) at least three - in 2011 there were 12 - companies are engaged in the exploration of oil and gas deposits.

oil

The first test drillings for crude oil were carried out in the vicinity of Berseba as early as 1900 and 1929 without usable stocks being able to be determined. Since then, test drilling has been carried out regularly across the country and stocks identified that may permit commercial production. It is assumed that there are large deposits in the Atlantic Ocean. Oil reserves of up to 12 billion barrels are currently (as of 2011) expected off the coast of Namibia, but have not been confirmed. Test drillings were started again in 2017.

natural gas

Huge natural gas deposits have been detected in Namibia in the Atlantic and are primarily intended to be used to generate electricity. The so-called Kudugas field should be developed by Namibian and international companies by 2015 and a gas power plant was planned.

Rare earth

The mining of rare earth metals is to begin in Namibia in the course of 2017 [obsolete] . The Canadian company Namibia Rare Earths has the mining rights over an area of ​​200 square kilometers . A mining volume of 1500 tons per year is assumed.

cement

Cement is produced in Namibia by the Ohorongo cement factory near Otavi. In 2016, production was almost 787,000 tons.

Other degradable mineral raw materials

The following minerals and rocks are extracted at the points mentioned, among others.

Granite quarrying at Walvis Bay (2018)
Karibib marble quarry (2018)
  • Marbles : for example Palisandro Marble near Gamikaub West , Bianco Karibib Town quarry near Karibib, Welwitschia Marble near Okatjimukuju ( Karibib marble works and other companies)
  • Phosphates : The mining license was issued in October 2016 under strict conditions for an initial three years.
  • Picture Stones : Picture Stone Quarry
  • Pietersite : Hopewell Farm, Outjo , Kunene Region
  • Pyrophyllite : Stiepelmann Mine ( Erongo region ), Small and Large Spitzkoppe (Kunene region), Kombat Mine ( Grootfontein , Otjozondjupa region)
  • Pyrite : Otjihase mine
  • Smoky quartz : Otjua mine ( Karibib , Erongo region), Small and Great Spitzkoppe (Kunene region)
  • Rose quartz : Bella Rosa mine (temporarily closed), Mickberg mine (temporarily closed), Rosalies mine (closed)
  • Sepiolite : Sepiolite mine
Decorative rock containing sodalite, Namibia Blue

Main source: Ministry of Mines and Energy

Institutions in Namibia's mining sector

Ministry of Mines and Energy

The Ministry of Mining and Energy plays a particularly important role because of the paramount role mining plays in the Namibian economy. The ministry is divided into five directorates. Among other things, mining licenses are issued.

Geological Survey

The Geological Survey of Namibia , as an independent part of the ministry, is the national geoscientific service in Namibia. The main tasks are the permanent development of the geological and mineral deposits in Namibia.

Mining Chamber

The Namibian Mining Chamber The Chamber of Mines of Namibia is the representation of all mining companies operating in Namibia and the link between the responsible ministry and the individual companies. Among other things, it organizes the "Mining Expo" (mining fair) every year.

Uranium Institute

The The Uranium Institute is part of the mining chamber and only deals with the exploration , the research and education within the Namibian uranium mining sector. The development of solutions for generating energy through nuclear power is part of the institute's area of ​​responsibility.

Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology

The Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology is a tertiary educational institution in the mining town of Arandis .

See also

literature

  • Olga Levinson: Diamonds in the Sand. The changeful life of August Stauch. Kuiseb Verlag, Windhoek 2007, ISBN 978-3-936858-02-0 .
  • Steffen Jahn, Olaf Medenbach, Gerhard Niedermayr, Gabi Schneider: Namibia - the magical world of precious stones and crystals. Bode-Verlag, 2nd edition, Haltern 2006, ISBN 3-925094-86-5 .
  • Sakkie Rothmann: Restricted area of ​​Namibia. ST Promotions, Swakopmund 1999, ISBN 99916-50-25-3 .

Web links

Individual references and source

  1. ↑ Chamber of Mines Annual Review 2015. , Chamber of Mines of Namibia, May 2016, p. 7. ( Memento from June 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) 3
  2. ↑ Chamber of Mines Annual Review 2011-2012, Chamber of Mines of Namibia, p. 95 ( memento of October 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 5.3 MB) accessed on October 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ a b About us - Namibia's World-class Mining Industry, The Chamber of Mines of Namibia ( Memento of February 25, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on May 3, 2011.
  4. ^ Morning news. Hitradio Namibia, August 17, 2020.
  5. ^ Serenity among gold producers , Allgemeine Zeitung, May 5, 2011.
  6. ^ RA Pelletier: Mineral Resources of South-Central Africa . Cape Town (Oxford University Press), 1964 pp. 24, 122-124.
  7. ↑ Annual Review 2019. Chamber of Mines, pp. Ii / 25. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  8. ↑ Annual Review 2019. Chamber of Mines, p. 74. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  9. ↑ a b c d e f g Annual Review 2017. The Chamber of Mines of Namibia, 2018.
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Chamber of Mines Annual Review 2016. The Chamber of Mines of Namibia, May 2017, p. 16ff.
  11. ↑ Few diamonds, highest value . Allgemeine Zeitung, 9 August 2011
  12. ^ Marine Diamond Mining Operations - Namibia, Diamond Fields International ( Memento of December 29, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on October 24, 2013.
  13. ↑ Canadian diamond producer to resume mining off Namibian coast. Mining.com, November 21, 2017.
  14. ↑ Pohamba inaugurates Sendelingsdrif mine. The Namibian, November 11, 2014 , accessed November 11, 2014.
  15. ↑ Okorusu halts production, Namibia Economist, August 14, 2009
  16. ↑ Annual Revier 2014. Chamber of Mines, 2014, p. 6  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.chamberofmines.org.na  
  17. ↑ December 12, 2014 News in the evening. Hitradio Namibia, December 12, 2014 ( Memento from December 16, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) accessed on December 16, 2014
  18. ↑ Copper mines are going down. ( Memento from September 17, 2015 in the web archive archive.today ) Allgemeine Zeitung, September 15, 2015
  19. ↑ New copper mine planned. Allgemeine Zeitung, November 15, 2013, p. 4.
  20. ↑ https://www.wbsalt.co.za/
  21. ↑ Chamber of Mines Annual Review 2008-2009, The Chamber of Mines of Namibia, p. 47 ( Memento of July 18, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 4.5 MB)
  22. ↑ More drilled, more known, Allgemeine Zeitung, March 29, 2011
  23. ↑ Husab confirmed as 4th biggest uranium deposit, The Namibian, June 8, 2011 ( Memento of June 9, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  24. ↑ Husab Uranium Project, Overview. Swakop Uranium, website, November 15, 2013 ( memento of July 14, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) accessed November 15, 2013.
  25. ↑ Together for Sustainable Development, Allgemeine Zeitung, May 3, 2011
  26. ^ Chemical plant and new port, Allgemeine Zeitung, April 29, 2011
  27. ↑ 600 job losses feared at Langer Heinrich. New Era, April 27, 2018.
  28. ↑ Chamber of Mines Annual Review 2008-2009, The Chamber of Mines of Namibia, p. 57 ( Memento of July 18, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 4.5 MB)
  29. ↑ Areva assures: "We stay here". Allgemeine Zeitung, March 27, 2015
  30. ↑ Uranium remains important: Mining Chamber is committed to uranium mining, Allgemeine Zeitung, May 20, 2011
  31. ↑ Marenica Energy adds to its uranium portfolio. Mining Review Africa, May 13, 2018.
  32. ↑ Scorpio Zinc. Vedanta Zinc International. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  33. ↑ Glencore sells Rosh Pinah, Perkoa to Trevali for $ 400m. MiningMx, March 14, 2017.
  34. ↑ About Us. NAMCOR , Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  35. ↑ 12 companies explore oil & gas in Namibia. Informanté, June 18, 2009.
  36. ↑ PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION , Ministry of Mines and Energy. ( Memento of March 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  37. ↑ Now official: There's oil off the Namibian coast. Allgemeine Zeitung, May 22, 2013.
  38. ↑ Namibia: Another Oil Find? New Era on allAfrica.com, June 11, 2010.
  39. ↑ Oil can bubble up from 2015: exploration boom strengthens hope for black gold - 12 billion barrels expected. Allgemeine Zeitung, July 7, 2011.
  40. ↑ Galp restarts oil exploration off the Namibian coast. New Era, May 24, 2017.
  41. ^ Kudu Power Project, NamPower , accessed May 17, 2011.
  42. ↑ Bids for a $ 1 bln gas project, iNamibia, February 11, 2011  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.inamibia.co.na  
  43. ↑ Official website of Namibia Rare Earths . (English)
  44. ↑ Dordabis farmers in turmoil - Planned iron ore mine needs 2000 m³ of water per day, concern for groundwater. Allgemeine Zeitung, July 13, 2011 ( Memento from July 18, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  45. ^ Okorusu Fluorspar wants to process graphite. The Namibian, April 8, 2016.
  46. ↑ Project - Okanjande Graphite. Gecko Graphite. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  47. ^ A b Geological Survey of Namibia: Namibian DimensionStone . 2006
  48. ↑ Aranos Coal Field, Gecko Coal (Pty) Ltd ( October 4, 2011 memento in the Internet Archive ), accessed June 8, 2011
  49. ^ A restart on Otjozondu, Allgemeine Zeitung, June 7, 2011
  50. ↑ Find location list for pietersite in the Mineralienatlas and in Mindat
  51. ↑ Find location list for pyrophyllite in the Mineralienatlas and Mindat
  52. ↑ Find location list for smoky quartz in the Mineralienatlas and Mindat
  53. ↑ Find location list for tiger's eye at the Mineralienatlas and at Mindat
  54. ↑ PRODUCING MINES AND THEIR PRODUCTS , Ministry of Mines and Energy ( Memento of April 23, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) accessed on May 17, 2011
  55. ↑ Geological Survey of Namibia , accessed on May 4, 2011.
  56. ↑ Mining Expo ( Memento of March 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) accessed on May 4, 2011
  57. ↑ Namibia Uranium Institute , accessed on May 4, 2011.