Swakopmund – More flaws and irregularities were revealed less than a week after Congress pointed out illegal mining in the UIS area of Daures constituency.
The results of the council’s Standing Committee on Natural Resources Surveillance Visit raised environmental and labor concerns in the mining sector.
The latest committee findings compiled in the report reveal vast environmental violations, regulatory failures, and exploitative labor practices across a variety of mines in the oshikoto, Otjozondjupa and Erongo regions.
The monitoring visit was conducted to assess compliance, sustainability and socioeconomic contributions within the mining, energy and natural resources sectors. This took place in Erongo, Otjozondjupa and Oshikoto, focusing on players in key industries in the energy and mining sectors.
The monitoring visit revealed key findings, including concerns about environmental management, workplace safety, slowing adoption of renewable energy, investment in inadequate local communities, and gaps in regulatory compliance.
The committee’s investigation revealed serious gaps in environmental management, workplace safety and corporate responsibility. It was found that some mining companies continue to operate without a valid environmental clearance certificate (ECC), while others have failed to rehabilitate their mining sites after extraction activities.
Among important concerns, the committee noted that Tsumeb’s dandy precious metals operated without an ECC that was in effect for more than six months, ensuring only renewals in February 2023. Additionally, former employees raised health concerns, including respiratory problems and suspected groundwater contamination from toxic waste stockpiles.
“There is serious concern about hazardous waste in the plant and requires regular inspections,” the committee said in its report. The report also highlights that while whale rock cement (cheetah cement) does not have rehabilitation plans in place, some sand mining companies are ignoring land repair efforts.
“The adoption of renewable energy solutions has been slow, and regions like oshikoto are far behind,” the committee said.
In Otjozondjupa, the committee noted that mining companies prioritized contributions to the central government, but failed to properly invest in the development of local communities.
The production of coal was flagged as a growth industry with many unregistered operators who did not significantly reward workers and did not provide adequate protective equipment. Labor violations were a major issue, especially at the Symphonie Stone Processing Company, where workers manually processed heavy materials without benefiting from medical assistance.
Similarly, former employees at Dundee Precious Metals have reported poor health and claimed inadequate medical care from company physicians,” the report states.
Governor’s weight
During consultations with the committee, Otojozondijjpa Governor James Urikua expressed dissatisfaction with the region’s lack of value added, noting that raw minerals are being exported without benefiting the local industry.
He added that little or no investment in infrastructure and community development from the mining sector has been invested.
“We need to move to beneficiaries to ensure job creation and wealth retention within Namibia. This can only be done if we fully maximize our resources,” Uerikua said.
Governor Eango Neville Andre expressed concern about the exploitation of workers and the lack of coordination between mining companies and local governments.
“Traditional leaders and communities remain largely informed of the mining operations taking place on their land. They need to have better engagement and accountability from these companies,” he said.
Oshikoto Governor Penda Yandakolo highlighted the slow progress in electrification in rural areas, highlighting that while some schools were connected to the grid, many villages still lacked power.
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The committee must ensure that the Ministry of the Environment submits a rehabilitation plan before all mining companies undergo an ECC. The Department of Labor must also conduct regular inspections to address workplace safety concerns, particularly at the Symphonie Stone Processing Company and Whale Rock cement,” the committee said.
The government also recommended that they rethink their approach to mining ownership by examining stockholding options rather than relying solely on royalties and taxes.
Policy needs to be developed to maximize the economic potential of lithium and tantalum by-products in UIS TIN mines.
Mining companies need to contribute meaningfully to infrastructure, education and social responsibility programs, the committee recommends. -edeklerk@nepc.com.na.
