Sandpiper mine gets go-ahead
The ministry of environment has granted an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) to Namibian Marine Phosphate for its proposed seabed mining project off the coast of Walvis Bay.
The certificate, issued on 5 August and valid for three years until August 2029, covers operations under Mining Licence 170, known as the Sandpiper project. The site lies about 120km south-west of Walvis Bay.
Namibian Marine Phosphate, majority-owned by Oman's Mawarid Mining, plans to dredge phosphate-rich sediments from the seabed at depths of roughly 180-250 metres. The company says the deposit contains more than 1.6 billion tonnes of phosphate resources and could support decades of production, underpinning a long-term fertiliser industry in Namibia.
An ECC is required under Namibia's Environmental Management Act of 2007 before listed activities, including mining, can begin. This one follows environmental and social impact assessments and management plans, and requires ongoing monitoring of seabed and water quality, along with regular reporting. The ministry retains the right to withdraw the certificate if environmental impacts prove greater than predicted.
The project has a long and contested history. A mining licence was granted in 2011, but operations were halted after strong opposition from the fishing industry and environmental groups. An earlier clearance issued in 2016 was later challenged and set aside, and a 2021 High Court ruling found the company did not hold a valid clearance and could not proceed without one.
The company subsequently submitted further studies and a revised application. The latest decision allows it to proceed with offshore mining activities covered by the certificate, though separate approvals will still be required for onshore processing and related infrastructure.
Supporters say the project could generate tax revenue and jobs while helping meet global demand for phosphate fertiliser, a key agricultural input. Company executives have argued that independent reviews found no evidence of significant harm to Namibia's marine ecosystem or commercial fisheries.
Fishing associations and conservation groups have warned that seabed dredging could create sediment plumes, disturb habitats, alter oxygen levels and threaten fish stocks in the Benguela Current system, one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems. If it proceeds, Sandpiper would be the first commercial marine phosphate mining operation of its kind.
