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Namibia’s mines and energy minister, Tom Alweendo.Photo Rössing Uranium
Namibia’s mines and energy minister, Tom Alweendo.Photo Rössing Uranium

Mining a bedrock of Namibia's economy - Alweendo

Minister advocates for sustainable practices
Ministry remains optimistic about the trajectory of Namibia's mining industry.
STAFF REPORTER
Namibia’s minister of mines and energy Tom Alweendo has expressed pride in the successful and responsible mining demonstrated by Namibian mining operations.

At a recent launch of the Rössing Uranium 2023 performance report in Windhoek, Alweendo highlighted recent key successes within the Namibian mining industry.

The mining industry's contribution to GDP was 14.4% in 2023, up from 11.9% in 2022, the minister said. The industry spent more than N$21 billion on local procurement last year and contributed at least N$6.4 billion to the fiscus in royalties and taxes, compared to N$4.2 billion in 2022, Alweendo added.

“The mining industry’s direct employment is now standing at around 18 189,” the minister said, noting that the mining sector contributed N$211 million in corporate social responsibility spending.

“These statistics indicate that the mining industry remains the bedrock of our economy. Therefore, our ministry remains optimistic about the trajectory of Namibia’s mining industry. Hence, I would like to commend all mining industry stakeholders for their positive contribution to the Namibian economy during 2023,” Alweendo said.



Responsible custodians

He said the mines and energy ministry, as the custodian of Namibia’s mineral resources, has the mandate to ensure that mineral resources are mined in a responsible manner.

“Responsible mining is not merely a desirable option, it is an imperative. Therefore, it is my expectation that mining companies in Namibia prioritise sustainable practices that minimise environmental impacts, uphold human rights, and contribute to the social and economic well-being of local communities," Alweendo said.

He emphasised that responsible mining requires a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, and mining operations must be conducted with the utmost care to minimise ecological disruption and prevent long-term damage to delicate socio-environmental ecosystems.

"In addition, responsible mining necessitates a long-term perspective that considers the needs of future generations. Therefore, industry players must move away from short-sighted approaches that prioritise immediate gains at the expense of the long-term sustainability of our industry,” the minister said.

“As we navigate the complex challenges of the 21st century, responsible mining stands as a beacon of hope and a pathway towards a more sustainable and equitable future. It requires collaboration and partnership among governments, industry stakeholders, civil society and local communities,” Alweendo said.

He added: “I strongly believe that together, we can forge a new paradigm of mining that respects our planet, empowers our communities and sustains our shared prosperity.”

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-07

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 673.43/OZ UP +0.35% | Copper US$ 4.35/lb UP +2.95% | Zinc US$ 3 082.50/T UP 3.44% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.91/BBP DOWN -0.0079 | Platinum US$ 979.52/OZ DOWN -0.0048 Sport results: Premier League: Fulham 2 vs 1 Brentford Weather: Katima Mulilo: 22° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 31° Eenhana: 21° | 31° Oshakati: 21° | 31° Ruacana: 20° | 31° Tsumeb: 19° | 26° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 23° Omaruru: 20° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 19° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 12:28, High tide: 06:39, Low Tide: 00:56, High tide: 18:52 Swakopmund: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:37, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:50 Walvis Bay: 15° | 24° Wind speed: 23km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:36, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:49 Rehoboth: 20° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 36° Aranos: 20° | 34° Lüderitz: 14° | 24° Ariamsvlei: 22° | 36° Oranjemund: 15° | 24° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 19° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 13° | 24° Maseru: 12° | 25° Antananarivo: 14° | 30° Lilongwe: 22° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 26° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 22° Durban: 16° | 23° Johannesburg: 15° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 31° Lusaka: 20° | 31° Harare: 17° | 30° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 22.48 | EUR to NAD 18.74 | CNY to NAD 2.43 | USD to NAD 17.4 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.25 | EGP to NAD 0.34 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.64 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.05 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.95 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.22 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1668.91 | USD to ZAR 17.41 | USD to ZMW 26.9 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1858.03 Down -1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14296.93 Down -0.02% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31045.26 Up +0.82% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9878.53 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 673.43/OZ UP +0.35% | Copper US$ 4.35/lb UP +2.95% | Zinc US$ 3 082.50/T UP 3.44% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.91/BBP DOWN -0.0079 | Platinum US$ 979.52/OZ DOWN -0.0048