WINDHOEK, Mar. 29 – Namibia Marine Phosphate (NMP) is progressing its application for an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for its mining license for the Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project, NMP said Tuesday. Public Meetings were held in Windhoek on 9th February 2022 and Walvis Bay on 11th February 2022. The notice of application and dates for the public meetings were advertised in the Namibian press on the 27 January 2022 and 3 February 2022, in accordance with EMA (2007).
According to NMP, “The Sandpiper Project could be the first building block in the start of a fertilizer industry in Namibia. Initially, NMP will create employment for over 600 Namibians (directly and indirectly) in construction and the plant-based operations in Walvis Bay.”
NMP has spent N$ 750 million in capital already on the project, which is envisaged to have direct economic impact in “creating opportunities for small medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other economic sectors; spend an estimated N$ 1 billion on civil and local infrastructure; as well as require a capital investment of N$ 5.2 billion for the development ”
It is projected to have an annual revenue of N$ 4.2 billion, all the while contributing direct taxes of N$ 650 million per year and royalties of N$ 78 million per year
The Namibian government has implemented initiatives to develop the Blue Economy Policy in Namibia and to implement Marine Spatial Planning (“MSP”) as part of the national objective to protect the marine environment as well as to resolve potential stakeholder conflicts and to support sustainable growth of both current and new marine industries in Namibia
“The Sandpiper Project’s parameters shows that the 20-year mine plan covers less area, a total area of 34km2 , and the size of the project’s average annual mining area will be 1.7km2 /year (not 2.5km2 /year as previously communicated), which represents less than 0.1% of the mining licence area (2,233km2 ). Although the Sandpiper Project’s 20-year mine plan only covers 34km2 , the socio-economic benefits of the project will make a major contribution to the local and national economy.
NMP remains fully committed to the responsible commercial, social, and environmental development of the proposed Sandpiper Project for the benefit of all stakeholders, as well as national interests and those of the Namibian public at large. – musa@namibiadailynews.info
