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The
mining industry plays an important role in employment, mineral production,
total export earnings and social advancement in Namibia. Namibia produces
gem quality diamonds, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, cadmium,
antimony, pyrite, silver, gold, semi-precious stones, industrial minerals
and dimension stone. Mining contributes 8 to 10 percent to total
government revenues. Mining-related exports make up 40 percent of total
export earnings from goods and services.
Preliminary data show that growth in value-added of the mining sector
decelerated to 3.5 percent during 2005, as opposed to a massive growth of
36.8 percent recorded during 2004. The sluggish performance of this sector
in 2005 was as a result of the slowing down in the activities of diamond
mining due to the non-operation of some of the mining vessels, as well as
the movement from the high production base in 2004, which had been
deliberately made to offset the effects of a strong domestic currency. The
output of the diamond industry had accordingly declined heavily by 6.2
percent in 2005 compared to an increase of 39.1 percent in 2004.
The
output of other minerals such as copper, zinc and silver showed an
expansion of 13.6 percent, 24.3 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively,
resulting primarily from an improvement in the prices of basic metals.
Skorpion Zinc produced its first metal at the beginning of May 2003 and
operations are proceeding smoothly. The company is aiming for full
production (150,000 tonnes per annum), with benefits for the economy in
general and the communities of Rosh Pinah and Lüderitz in particular.
A
little over four years ago Ongopolo Mining and Processing Limited turned a
liquidated copper mine into a profitable concern. Ongopolo Mining and
Processing is forging ahead with several more projects, one of which is
the new exploration shaft and associated development at Asis West. The
company is also developing additional sources of feed material to the
smelter from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
Rössing Uranium is currently engaged in a major re-evaluation to sustain
the life of the mine to the year 2015.
Anglogold’s Navachab operation recently announced that the pit extension
programme has been approved, extending the life of operations
significantly. Navachab is Namibia’s sole gold producing mine and prior to
the approved pit extension reserves were expected to be exhausted by 2003.
Namibia is one of the largest producers of gem quality diamonds with
around 98 percent of production being gem quality. Diamonds are mined
along the Orange river, palaeo beach deposits along the south western and
western coast of the country, as well as from offshore marine deposits.
Namibia's offshore marine deposits are the world's richest, with an
estimated reserve of over 1.5 billion carats. Marine diamonds represent
about 56 percent of Namibia’s total diamond production.
The
largest diamond mining company in Namibia is Namdeb, a partnership with De
Beers and the Namibian government, which has both onshore and marine
operations. Namdeb has opencast diamond mining operations covering nearly
130 kilometres of coastline north of the Orange river, while De Beers
Marine operates deepwater mining. A major investment achievement of the
group has been to complete the transfer of its main contractor, Debmarine,
into a fully-fledged Namibian operation, based in Windhoek.
Namco
is one of the main ocean diamond-mining producers. In 1996, the company
identified a diamond resource estimated at around 3 million carats, which
it is harvesting through robotic mining of the ocean floor.
Diamond Fields International has a marine concession in Lüderitz Bay which
is expected to produce around 40,000 carats per year.
Afri-Can
Marine Minerals Corporation have established themselves as one of the
largest marine diamond concession holders in Namibia with a total of 28
EPLs covering a total area of 26,500 sq. km. Furthermore with regard to
marine diamond mining operations, Sakawe Mining Corporation has been
established and has embarked on a programme of extensive exploration.
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