Erongo to draft mineral beneficiation strategy
Exports climb to N$41 billion
Governor Nathalia /Goagoses says the region aims to process more of its own minerals amid rising output from uranium, tin, gold and lithium mines.
Erongo is formulating a regional mineral beneficiation strategy to maximise local value from its abundant resources, Governor Nathalia /Goagoses announced during her State of the Region Address on Wednesday in Swakopmund.“The regional leadership will engage stakeholders to map critical minerals and to develop a regional integrated mineral beneficiation strategy, which will result in the actual beneficiation of these resources,” she said.
The plan aligns with the Swapo Party Manifesto Implementation Plan and is expected to be detailed in the region’s upcoming strategic plan, to be launched in August.
Erongo is Namibia’s mining powerhouse, hosting nine of the country’s 26 operational mines. These include uranium mines like Husab, Rössing and Langer Heinrich; tin from the Uis Mine; gold from QKR Navachab and Osino Resources’ Twin Hills project and critical minerals such as lithium, tantalum, and zinc.
Thousands of jobs
The sector supported 7 807 jobs in 2024, with total procurement spending of N$17.86 billion – 70.3% of it locally. Exploration investment reached N$694 million, and sector exports are projected to grow by 21.9% in 2025, reaching N$41 billion.
Husab Mine recorded a 13% production increase during the review period, with the governor stating that the operation has “created 6 000 jobs” across direct and indirect roles. Langer Heinrich, which restarted in 2024, invested N$1.5 billion and added 1 000 new jobs.
Rössing increased its expenditure from N$3.88 billion to N$5.23 billion year-on-year, achieving 84% local procurement and a 99% Namibian workforce.
The governor said beneficiation efforts would be linked to enterprise development: “Special initiatives may potentially be funded through the corporate social responsibility portfolio, thus boosting the small and medium enterprise sector.”
Companies across the sector contributed a combined N$79.45 million to community and social projects in the reporting period.