Extension granted for public input on in-situ mining
The period for public review of an environmental investment assessment (EIA) report for preliminary test mining work in the Omaheke Region has been extended.
According to the Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association (Sauma), the public will be able to comment on the ‘Wings Project’ until 23 February. The deadline was extended from 24 January after due process was seemingly not followed.
“Headspring Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uranium One Group, has obtained mining rights under exclusive prospecting licences 6780, 6781, 6782, 6783, 4654, 4655, 4656 and 4657, referred to as the ‘Wings Project’.
“The company is exploring the Stampriet Basin in Namibia to discover new sandstone uranium deposits potentially suitable for in-situ leaching-based mining method,” the EIA read.
Process not followed
Sauma said on 12 January, its management committee “by chance” discovered that Headspring’s relevant documents had been added to the EIA section of the environment ministry’s website.
These documents include the EIA and environmental management plan (EMP) the environmental compliance consultancy (ECC) initiated in 2021, it said.
“A considerable number of Sauma members had been registered as interested and affected parties and provided comments and questions during public stakeholder meetings.”
It said Namibian legislation prescribes that before an applicant submits a report compiled in terms of the regulations to the environmental commissioner, the applicant must give registered interested and affected parties access to and an opportunity to comment - in writing - on the report.
“Due process appears to not have been followed and could be viewed as a disregard of Namibian legislation,” Sauma said.
The association said following the publication of an open letter in several newspapers and digital outlets, Environmental Commissioner Timo Mufeti granted the extension.
Submit comments
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said Headspring’s application and relevant documentation are available for inspection at the Office of the Environment Commissioner or through a Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/b40fk3ethx7uuyfdkcl2e/h?rlkey=d0deq23kxnl3bd07yp5362xj2&dl=0
“The EIA, draft EMP and other associated documents for this application were submitted to both the mines ministry as competent authority and the Office of the Environmental Commissioner, in terms of the Environmental Management Act, for environmental clearance consideration.”
Comments can be submitted via email to [email protected] or by hand to his office at environment ministry’s head office, room E3-25 on the second floor.
According to the Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association (Sauma), the public will be able to comment on the ‘Wings Project’ until 23 February. The deadline was extended from 24 January after due process was seemingly not followed.
“Headspring Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uranium One Group, has obtained mining rights under exclusive prospecting licences 6780, 6781, 6782, 6783, 4654, 4655, 4656 and 4657, referred to as the ‘Wings Project’.
“The company is exploring the Stampriet Basin in Namibia to discover new sandstone uranium deposits potentially suitable for in-situ leaching-based mining method,” the EIA read.
Process not followed
Sauma said on 12 January, its management committee “by chance” discovered that Headspring’s relevant documents had been added to the EIA section of the environment ministry’s website.
These documents include the EIA and environmental management plan (EMP) the environmental compliance consultancy (ECC) initiated in 2021, it said.
“A considerable number of Sauma members had been registered as interested and affected parties and provided comments and questions during public stakeholder meetings.”
It said Namibian legislation prescribes that before an applicant submits a report compiled in terms of the regulations to the environmental commissioner, the applicant must give registered interested and affected parties access to and an opportunity to comment - in writing - on the report.
“Due process appears to not have been followed and could be viewed as a disregard of Namibian legislation,” Sauma said.
The association said following the publication of an open letter in several newspapers and digital outlets, Environmental Commissioner Timo Mufeti granted the extension.
Submit comments
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said Headspring’s application and relevant documentation are available for inspection at the Office of the Environment Commissioner or through a Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/b40fk3ethx7uuyfdkcl2e/h?rlkey=d0deq23kxnl3bd07yp5362xj2&dl=0
“The EIA, draft EMP and other associated documents for this application were submitted to both the mines ministry as competent authority and the Office of the Environmental Commissioner, in terms of the Environmental Management Act, for environmental clearance consideration.”
Comments can be submitted via email to [email protected] or by hand to his office at environment ministry’s head office, room E3-25 on the second floor.
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Namibian Sun
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