THE NAMIB TIMES, 5 APRIL 2013

Swakopmund Matters started out towards the end of 2011 because of the concern for all the negative effects GECKO’s planned Industrial Complex north of Swakopmund would have on the town’s environment and its inhabitants. Apart from its land-based facilities, this project wants to mine phosphates off the coast of Namibia. This is in addition to three others also planning such marine activities. One of these (Sandpiper project) would also have land activities in Walvis Bay for the processing of the phosphate mined at sea. They have become the subject of real concern to all those who are anxious about the negative effects to be brought about by such mining in the marine environment of Namibia and its fishing industry in particular.

Over the years Namibia’s marine environment has been subjected to the familiar threats being posed by pollution, etc.

However, in 2011 a new and more serious threat reared its ugly head. One that has never been faced before, not in Namibian waters, in fact, nowhere in the world – marine mining of phosphates.

Four groups are currently involved in projects to mine phosphates in the coastal environment of Namibia.

• The project of Namibia Marine Phosphate (NMP) is called Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project (SMPP) and will focus on an area south of Walvis Bay Originally two Australian companies (Minemakers & UCL Resources) were the major share holders with 85% shared equally amongst the two of them. That left NMP with only 15%. In December 2012 Minemakers sold its 42,5% share to Mawarid Mining of Oman. Still leaving the Namibian component of the company with only 15%.

• The project of Gecko Namibia has this mining as the kingpin for its Vision Industrial Complex’s land based operations to be located in part of a national park north of Swakopmund.

• The project of New Zealand’s Chatham Rock Phosphates (CRP) is in its initial stage. This company has applied for several EPL’s. CRP has established a company, MANMAR INVESTMENTS ONE HUNDER SIX (Pty) Ltd., in Namibia, but its shareholding is not yet known.

• The project of LL Namibia Phosphates (Pty) Ltd wants to mine near Luderitz. It is a Windhoek based company of which limited details are available, except for the names of its CEO, one other director and the project manager.

In addition, Rainbow Salt wants to enter into a project being contemplated in the Dorob National Park near Wlotzkasbaken.

All the uncertainties about marine phosphate mining arise due to the lack of knowledge and experience about the technologies and processes under-pinning the mining system, the biodiversity and ecosystems of the deep ocean. What is certain is that many impacts will be associated with each step of the mining process.

Due to this high level of uncertainty, it is not possible to predict the precise and full impact of any individual, let alone the cumulative impacts of all four projects. This is a great of concern. In national waters the government may not have environmental regulatory systems specific to marine mining in place or even the capacity to enforce regulations and conduct independent monitoring and adequate and strict enforcement.

The geographic footprint of each individual seabed mining operation is likely to be large. The interactions between currents, weather and oceanic events will mean that the spread of pollution and impacts can neither be contained nor readily predicted. The high level of uncertainty and risk associated with individual projects will accumulate and compound in unknown ways as deep sea mining activity increases.

Swakopmund Matters is not against progress or development. By all means let it come – but then in a structured and coordinated way and in accordance with the Constitution which demands a sustainable environment for current and future generations. Due recognition of what Namibia stands for environmentally must be taken seriously as the intention is with all its laws. All those who are entrusted by law to be the guardians of Namibia’s environment should fearlessly and forcefully demonstrate that they are indeed committed to uphold all these laws.

Since its beginning Swakopmund Matters has sent 25 different circular e-mails to each of its over 15.800 contacts locally, nationally and internationally.

Swakopmund Matters