New copper mine on the cards

Public meeting in Windhoek on Tuesday
Yolanda Nel
A compliance meeting takes place on Wednesday to discuss the environmental clearance certificate application process for the planned Ongombo underground copper mining project.
The Ongombo Project lies within the Matchless member of the Kuiseb Formation. According to the background information document, the project will be a low grade and low tonnage operation, therefore the mine will be a low-cost operation and designs will be directed at keeping operating and capital costs to a minimum. The target production rates to be evaluated are set for a 40 000 tonnes per month. “The deposit is relatively small yet extends on strike and will have a short life compared to other Southern African projects and as such the infrastructure and cost base will be designed accordingly.”
It is located near the Windhoek district, 1.5km northeast of the Otjihase Mine and 45km from Windhoek. The property can be accessed from Windhoek, towards Gobabis.
Environmental Compliance Consultancy (ECC) has been contracted by Shali Group Holdings (Pty) Ltd to revise and update the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for underground mining activities within EPL 5772.
According to the document, new mining activities could contribute to the national and local economies. “Namibia’s economy depends largely on mining. Should the project prove economically viable, the Namibian economy can expect benefits from revenues during the construction phase, royalties and taxes during the life of mine and a positive contribution towards employment,” the document reads, adding that between 20 and 80 people will be employed during construction. It will provide jobs and livelihoods for them, for the anticipated life of mine between 12-14 years.
Construction activities will include the establishment of linear infrastructure such as access roads, power lines and pipelines as well as bulk earthworks, civil and steel works in order to prepare and establish the administrative infrastructure, processing plant, fencing and related mining required infrastructures. They will also construct a conveyor belt for underground mining activities.
The Environmental Compliance Consultancy invite interested and affected parties and members of the public to the public meeting and provide inputs into the environmental clearance certificate application process. The meeting will take place at the Namibia Scientific Society on Wednesday 18 May at 18:30. More queries contact Samuel Shinyemba on 081 476 5261 or send an email to [email protected]