Namibia's World-class Mining Industry
The Chamber of Mines of Namibia represents the interests of all the major mining and exploration companies active in the country. With 78 members (as at December 2, 2009) from an industry that makes up 15.8 % of Namibia's Gross Domestic Product and 61 % (2008) of merchandise exports, the Chamber brings together a wide variety of companies from the most important sector of the Namibian economy and represents the industry in its dealings with Government and other stakeholders. Namibia is a world-class producer of rough diamonds, uranium oxide, special high-grade zinc and acid-grade fluorspar as well as a producer of gold bullion, blister copper, lead & zinc concentrate and salt.
A number of world-class companies using state-of-the-art mining and processing technologies are members of the Chamber. Rio Tinto plc and Anglo American plc, the world's second- and third-largest mining companies produce uranium oxide at Rössing mine and special high-grade zinc at Skorpion mine and refinery. The world's number one diamond producer, De Beers, works with the Government of Namibia through Namdeb, in a 50:50 joint venture and produced 2.13 million carats in 2008 of the world's finest gem diamonds. Increasingly, more of Namdeb's output comes from under the sea, thanks to the technical expertise of De Beers Marine Namibia. Lev Leviev operates a diamond-mining company, Samicor, as well as a diamond-cutting and polishing factory LLD in Namibia.
AngloGold Ashanti produces gold bullion at Navachab mine near Karibib. Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation, with Exxaro Base Metals Namibia and Namibian Investors as major shareholders own the Rosh Pinah mine, producing zinc and lead concentrates. Weatherly Mining Namibia operates the copper mines (currently under care and maintenance) and Namibia Custom Smelters produces blister copper at the Tsumeb smelter. Okorusu Fluorspar, owned by European chemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics giant Solvay, is one of the world's largest producers of acid grade fluorspar.
Uranium exploration and mining in Namibia:
Spot prices for uranium oxide soared to an all-time high in 2007, reaching US$137 per pound. A shortage of uranium for existing and proposed nuclear power utilities around the world was predicted to impact supply around 2010 to 2012. This, as well as the rising costs of fossil fuels and fears of its impact on global warming, has resulted in a resurgence of interest in uranium. This renewed interest in nuclear energy as one of the clean alternative energy sources has been referred to as the ‘nuclear renaissance’ and is not without its controversies. Despite this, there has been a boom in uranium exploration activities worldwide and specifically in Namibia’s Erongo Region.
Namibia became the world’s fourth largest producer of uranium in 2008, with production expected to increase in the near future when the new mines currently being developed at Trekkopje and Valencia by AREVA and Forsysmetals / Westport Resources respectively come on stream to add to Rio Tinto's Rössing Uranium mine and Paladin Energy's Langer Heinrich Uranium mine.
The Chamber of Mines Uranium Stewardship has now been developed further into the Chamber of Mines Uranium Institute.
“The Chamber of Mines knows that nuclear energy is surrounded by questions of Health, Environmental and Radiation Safety, Waste, cost and non-proliferation. We believe these questions have sound and convincing answers and the Chamber of Mines Uranium Stewardship’ task is to provide them, accurately and comprehensively, with full recognition of public concerns. The Chamber of Mines Uranium Institute was established in 2009 to address these issues and to introduce best standards for the Uranium Industry in Namibia”
This quote from Mr. Mike Leech, President of the Chamber of Mines and Managing Director of Rio Tinto Rossing Uranium Limited explains the purpose of this initiative.