Phosphate is considered by the United Nations as a critical element for food security.
Phosphate deposits contain phosphorus, which is a vital element for growth in plants, animals, and humans. There is no artificial substitute for phosphorous for this purpose. It is therefore an essential element used in the production of fertiliser and animal feed to promote and sustain health and growth.
Phosphate is therefore now considered and listed as a critical mineral for food security by an increasing number of nations, including Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as organizations such as the United Nations.
More recently, phosphate has proven to have significant technical and environmental benefits if used as an alternative to highly toxic metals such as cobalt to produce lithium ferro phosphate batteries in the green energy and electric vehicle sectors.
The Sandpiper Project is a pelletal-phosphorite resource on the continental shelf off the west coast of Namibia, in the Atlantic Ocean, in water depths of 180-250m. Previous exploration activities have verified, to internationally approved standards, the existence of a world-class economically viable marine phosphate resource. The Mining License (ML170), covering an area of 2,234 km2, was granted in June 2011 for an initial period of 20 years. The mineral resource and ore reserve base, which is JORC Compliant, is of a size and average grade capable of supporting the development of a long term economically viable mining operation.
The application for environmental permitting has been submitted and is currently pending. Required public consultation and project awareness activities have been conducted since 2011 and are ongoing.
Ore Reserves: Proven and Probable Ore Reserves of 132.76 Mt at 20.41% P₂O₅
Mineral Resources:
Cut-off Grade: Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources were estimated at 15% cut-off grade
NMP is a Namibian registered joint venture (JV) company, which is 85% owned by a Namibian-registered and wholly-owned subsidiary of Oman-based Mawarid Mining LLC, and 15% owned by a 100% Namibian-owned company, Havana Investments (Pty) Ltd.
Namibians and the National Economy will benefit on a number of levels, including but not limited to:
As the phosphate industry in Namibia matures, there is potential to establish future downstream processing of rock phosphate concentrate utilizing higher skilled industrial processing facilities to produce higher value fertilizer products not only for export but also to help secure agricultural productivity and food security in Namibia and the region.
The project will contribute to local, regional, and national growth through employment, royalties, and tax revenues. Direct permanent employment will be created, as well as indirect jobs in supporting services. These will include short-term employment during construction and the opportunity for capacity development and training.
The proposed development of the current identified Ore Reserves will support an initial 20-year mine plan with an annual recovery of approx. 5.5 Mt per annum. At these levels of production, the defined phosphate mineral resources are adequate to support sustainable mining at the proposed rates for several generations, potentially extending up to 100+ years.
It is envisaged that the mining operation will entail dredging and recovery of marine phosphate bearing sediments using a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) from water depths between 200 to 250m, within ML170. The scale of the proposed project will involve mining of up to approx. 2.5 km2 per annum (average of 1.7 km2 per year over 20 years), which equates to approx. 0.1% of the mining license area and 0.002% of seabed on the continental shelf within Namibia’s exclusive economic zone.
The cumulative impact footprint of dredging will cover an area of approx. 34 km2 area over the 20-year life of phosphate dredging, which represents approx. 1.5% of the mining license area and 0.03% of the seabed on the continental shelf within Namibia’s exclusive economic zone. The infographic below depicts the area to be mined annually in comparison to diamond mining and the fishing industries, which are already present in the Atlantic Ocean.
The process of mining sediments on the seafloor will be carried out utilizing a conventional Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) dredging process. The recovery of material from the seabed in the shallow waters on the continental shelf for marine mining purposes is done by some method of dredging to excavate the seabed sediment and deliver the dredged sediment to the surface for processing. Namibia already has a well-established mineral and environmental legislative framework, along with additional pending management measures, including Marine Spatial Planning and a Blue Economy Policy, to ensure that a vibrant marine mining industry is maintained in balance with other ocean-based industries and activities.
During the dredging process, the very fine component of the seabed material remains in suspension and is discharged with excess water from the dredger. This process generates what is known as a fine sediment plume, which is a common feature for most surface-driven dredging operations. The dispersion of the fine sediment plume has been comprehensively modelled and assessed by specialists as part of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process. The study concludes that the plume will disperse largely within the boundaries of the Mining License area and is expected to have a low-to-moderate impact on the local marine environment. Additionally, as part of the ESIA process, appropriate verification, baseline, and monitoring programmes have been included in the final Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the project.
Plume dispersion, water column chemistry, and toxicity specialist studies have all been conducted to date as part of the Sandpiper Project’s comprehensive environmental impact assessments. These expert studies have concluded that there will be no significant impact on the Benguela marine ecosystem or the commercial fishing industry as a whole as a result of the dredging operations and disposal of fine sediments overboard. The seabed in the mining area will be excavated to a depth of 2.5m on average; however, the Sandpiper Project’s environmental management plan (EMP) requires that the base layer (below the phosphate zone) is not exposed and that corridors of undisturbed seabed are left within the mining area to support recolonization of the seabed benthos as part of the rehabilitation process. As the dredging process in the mining area is not continuous and will take place only approx. 3 times a week (i.e. not 24/7 as in the marine diamond mining industry), the generated sediment plume will therefore have time to disperse in between dredging cycles, thereby substantially reducing the overall impact on the marine environment.
Yes. The Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) application process itself has been rigorously evaluated and faced challenges similar to what the Uranium Industry underwent when being developed in Namibia.
Most recently, NMP has completed and submitted a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in October 2022 as part of the application for the Environmental Clearance Certificate for Mining License ML170. Prior to that, NMP has, since 2011, been conducting Environmental Impact Assessments and Specialist Studies. These reports are publicly available from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET). Additionally, the ESIA and Specialist studies have been subjected to an independent external review on 4 occasions, including the most recent in 2023 by consultants appointed by the Environmental Commissioner.
The ESIA, the supporting independent expert reports, and the external reviewers’ reports all collectively conclude that the Sandpiper Project will not have a significant impact on the Benguela current large marine ecosystem, marine environment, or the commercial fishing industry in Namibia.
None of the independent expert reports completed to date advised against the proposed phosphate dredging operations. In fact, all reports concluded that the Sandpiper Project will not have a significant impact on Namibia’s marine environment or the Benguela Large Marine Ecosystem, and the reports also refuted the unsupported claims and related public concerns that phosphate mining will cause “catastrophic damage to the environment” or “kill the fishing industry.”
How many specialist studies were conducted during the EIA Process? 28 specialist reports have been completed, assessing various aspects of the potential environmental impact of the proposed dredging operations in ML170.
* These are available either on NMP’s website or at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
Yes. Localised and regional studies confirm that marine phosphate mining operations can co-exist with fishing (and other related marine-based industries) just as fishing already co-exists with, for example, the existing marine diamond mining operations in Namibia. Published evidence from these independent expert reports conclude that the Sandpiper Project will not “kill the fishing industry,” as claimed in some media reports. The marine diamond mining industry has co-existed with the fishing industry in Namibia for over 30 years, and repeated environmental studies (conducted by Namibia’s leading marine diamond mining company, NamDeb, over the past 30 years) have produced strong evidence that the seabed does recover after dredging excavation for marine diamond recovery (source: the 2008 BCLME study on cumulative impacts of seabed mining in Namibia by Pisces Environmental Consultant).
Since it has been proven that marine diamond mining operations have not affected the fishing industry, then marine phosphate mining, which will be undertaken at a much smaller scale than marine diamond mining, will also be able to co-exist with the fishing industry.
No. NMP’s mining activity (based on 1 vessel) will affect an area of up to 2.5km2 of the seabed per year (an average of 1.7 km2 per year over 20 years). Comparatively, every year, in Namibia, the diamond mining fleet of 7 vessels affects an estimated area of at least 10-15km2 per year while commercial fishing bottom trawling fisheries affects an estimated area of over 18,000 km2 per year.
The cumulative impact footprint of NMP’s operations will cover an area of approx. 34km2 over the 20-year life of phosphate mining. By comparison, the cumulative area of seabed excavated by Debmarine Namibia’s diamond mining operations over the past 25 years, since commencement in early 2000s, is reportedly estimated to be about 3% of their 6000 km2 mining license area (ie. 180 km2) (source: Resource development – Operations | Debmarine Namibia).
There is conclusive evidence confirming that the seabed does recover after excavation at varying rates depending on water depth, according to repetitive environmental surveys conducted by NamDeb over 30 years of marine diamond mining extracting sediments from the seabed (source: the 2008 BCLME study by Pisces Environmental Consultant).
Yes. The sediment dredged from the seabed will be stored in the hopper of the dredge vessel and transported to a shore-based plant for processing to produce a phosphate concentrate product. During the onshore processing, all the process tailings, including the residual fine and coarse sediment (shell) fractions that do not form part of the phosphate concentrate product, will be transported by pipes and stored in a suitable Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). None of the residual tailing’s material from the processing plant will be discharged into the ocean.
The processing for beneficiation of the marine phosphate ore to produce phosphate concentrate is a mechanical process carried out utilizing sea water, mechanical spirals, and size screening equipment that remove both coarse and fine particles. No toxic or potentially hazardous industrial chemicals are utilized to produce the phosphate concentrate product for the Sandpiper Project.
Since independence in 1990, Namibia has developed Environmental Legislation that provides the regulatory framework within which major industrial operations have been operating successfully for the past 35 years both onshore as well as offshore, for example, with the marine diamond mining industry.
Excellent Regulations: Namibia has excellent regulations regarding waste management and monitors production plants across various industries including, but not limited to, marine diamond mining, uranium processing, etc. In fact, Namibian environmental legislation ranks amongst the best in the world and has been effectively applied by the Government since independence in 1990 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).
These FAQs have been translated as accurately as possible into Khoekhoegowab, Oshiwambo, and Afrikaans to convey the information contained in the original version. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and clarity, slight variations in interpretation may occur. In the event of any uncertainty, discrepancy, or misunderstanding, please contact our office at info@namphos.com for clarification.
ǁAedi ǃGae-ǁares ge ǂûn ǁapoǁaposis ǃaroma phosphate-e kaise ǂhâǂhâsa xū se ra anuǃgôa.
Phosphate-i ge phosphorus-e ūhâ tsî ǁî-i ge hain, xamarin tsî khoe kaisis ǃaroma kaise a ǂhâǂhâsa xū. Nē ǃaromas ǃgao phosphorus-e nî ǂnûǁkhae xū-i ge a ǀkhai. ǁÎ i ge ǂhâǂhâsa xū-i ase i ǀarumās hōǂgās ǃnâs, xamarin ǂûsa ǂnûikhâis tsî ǂurusib kaisisa ǃkhōǀgaras ǃaromas tsîna.
Canadab, New Zealand i, Australiab tsî ǁAedi ǃGae-ǁares khama i kai ǂharugu ǃkhaigu tsîn ge phosphate-e ǂû ǁapoǁaposis ǃaroma kaise a ǂhâǂhâsa xū-i ase ra anuǃgôa.
ǀĀǁae i ge phosphate-e ǁgauǂui hâ ǁî i ǃgomǀgausa tegniese domdorede ūhâsa, ǁî i ga ǀgaisase ǃgāxa metal i, Kolbat i hîa Litium ‘ferro’ phosphate batiridi hîa ǃam ǀgaib tsî elektri ǃnari-ūxū ǃâgu ǃnâ a sîsenūhe o.
Sandpiper Projeks ge a ‘pelletal-phosphate’ xū hîa Namibiab huriǂoas ǃhūǃâb ǁkharas hurib ǃnâ 180 – 250 meterde ǂnôasa. Aibekam ôaǃnâ-ǁaxasigu ge saora se ge ǀgomǀgomǃgao, hoaǃnâ-aixase ī ǂanǃgâsa tsî ūǃoahe hâ ǀgaugu, ǃhūbaisi sâuǁkhāsib huri phosphate xūn hâ sa. Mainǁaxasi lisensies (ML170), 2,334km2 e ra ǃgūs ge 2011ǁî kurib di Gamaǀaeb ǃnâ ge māhe, 20 kurin ǁaeb ǃaroma tsoastsoas ǃnâ. Mineral xūn tsî ǀuriǀuib hîa JORC ǁnâumāsenxan ge kaisib tsî ǁkhāsib tsîna ūhâ mainǁaxasiga gaxu ǁaeb sâuǁkhāsib omkhâis ǃaroma ǂkhâǃnâsa. ǂNamipe mā-ams ǂganǂgās ge māǂgahe tsî ǃâuhe hâ. ǂHâbasa ǀhûhâsi ǃhoadi tsî nē projeksa ǂanǂans ǁaxasigu ge 2011ǁî kuriba xu dīhe ǃgôaxa tsî noxopa ra aiǃu.
ǀUriǀui ǃKhaib: 132.76 Mt, 20.41% P205 tawa ǁapoǁapohe hâ tsî ǁkhāsib hâ ǀuriǀui ǃkhaib.
Mineral xūn:
ǁAraǁnâhe hâ ǃâb: ǀUriǀuib tsî Mineral xūn tsîn ge 15% i ai ǁaraǁnâhe hâ se ra ǀhaehe.
NMPs ge xoaǂgāsa tsî ǀhao hâ Namibiaǁî ǂharugu ǃkhais hîa 85% se a Namibiaǁî tsî hoase Oman ǃurusa Mawarid Mainǁaxasi LLCs xa ūhâhe hâ sa, tsî ī ge 15% sa 100% Namibiaǁî ǂharugu ǃkhaib, Havana Investments (Pty) Ltds xa ūhâhe hâ.
Namibiaǁîn tsî ǃhūb sâuǁkhāsib māsib tsîn ge ǃkharagagu ǃharodi ai nî domdore, saora se xawe ǁnâpa ǀam tamase:
Namibiab phosphate kuruǂharugub ra kai khami i ge īǁkhāsiba hâ ǀui phosphate-e ǃhūb ǃnâ kurus diba, ǀgaisa tsî ānusa ǀarumā na sîǂuis ǃaroma, ǃhanaǂgāb sîsennga ǂhâǂhâ tsî ǂû ǁapoǁaposis tsîna Namibiab ǀkharib ǃnâ ra ǀgaiǀgai se.
Nē projeks ge ǀhûhâsi, ǀkharisi tsî ǃhūb hoab omkhâisa ǃoa nî ǀaro, sîsenn kurus, marisi aiǂhanudi tsî ǁgui-aimaridi tsîn ǃnâ ū. ǀKhamasa sîsenn-i tsî ǂkhâǃnâ ǃoabadi ǃnâs tsîna i ge sîsenn-e nî kuruhe. Nēs ge oms ǁaeb ǃnâ ǃnupu ǁaeb sîsenn ga kurus tsî omkhâis. Tsî ǁkhāǁkhāsens ǃēdi tsîna ǃkhōǂgā hâ.
Mâi-aiǃâhe hâ omkhâis nē ǂanǂuihe hâ ǀuriǀui ǃkhaigu dis ge 20 kurigu mainǁaxasi ǀapede ǁaubexa 5.5 Mt e kurikorobe hō-oasa nî ǂkhâǃnâ. Nē ǃharodi hōǂgās didi ǃnâ i ge ǂanǂuihe hâ phosphate mineral xūna ǂâuhâ ǃgâi mainǁaxasiga ǂhâǃnâsa mâi-aiǃâhe hâ ǀgauga ǃoa ǃgôaǃgôasa surigu ǁaeba, 100 kurigu tsîna a ǃkharu ǁkhā.
Mûǂuihe i ra sa ǃoa i ge nē mainǁaxasiga sîsenūhe ǁkhā phosphate-e sîsenbēs ǃaroma ‘Tailing Suction Hopper Dredger’ (TSHD) sa nî sîsenū, 200 e xu 250 metergu ǁgam ǃgamsiba ML170s ǃnâ. Kaisib nē mâi-aiǃâhe hâ projeks ǃkhōǂgā hâ mainǁaxasigu dib ge ǁaubexa 2.5 km2 i kōse kurikorobe a sī ǁkhā (1.7km2 e kurikorobe 20 kurigu ǁaeba a ǃkharu ǁkhā se). Nēs ge ǁaubexa 0.1% i mainǁaxasi lisensies ǃkhaib dib ǀkha ra ǀguitikō tsî 0.002 % huri ǁgoeǃkhaib hîa Namibiab sâuǁkhāsib ǃâb dib ǀkha.
20 kurina nî ǃkharu phosphate sîsenbēs ge 34km2 i ǃkhaiba nî tsâǀkhā. Nē i ge 1.5%. i mainǁaxasi lisensies ǃkhaib dib tsî 0.03% i huri ǁgoeǃkhaib diba Namibiab ǃhūb tsî ǁîb sâuǁkhāsib ǃâb tsîn ǃnâ. Sao ra ai-īsib ge ǃkhaib hîa nî mainhe ba ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasigu tsî ǁauǃkhō kuruǂharugub hîa ǀnai Atlantik hurib ǃnâ hâgu ǀkha ra ǀgōpeǁnō se ra ǁgau.
Huri ǁgoeǃkhaiba xu i ge mainǁaxasigu ǂomaba ‘Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger’ (TSHD) s ǀkha nî sîsenbē he. Material i ge ǃgām huri ǁgoeǃkhaiba xu ūhe tsî ǃhūb aib ra ǀkhī-ūhe sîsenbēhes ǃaroma, nēs ge huri ǁgoeǃkhai ǂomaba ra khaokhâi ǃhūba ǃoa ǀkhī-ū tsî sîsen-ūhes ǃaroma. Namibiab ge ǀnai ǀgaisa mainǁaxasi tsî ǂnamipeb ǁgaraga ūhâ, nēs ge ǀasa ǀapedi hîa ‘Marine Spatial Planning’ tsî ‘Blue Economy Policy’ ti mî ra ǀonǂgaihedi ǀkha sa, ǁîdi ge huri mainǁaxasib nî kai ǃkhaisa ǃos nî mû nau huri ǁaxasin tsîn ǀkha ǀguitikōse hâ se.
Sîsenbēhe i ra hîa i ge huri ǁgoeǃkhaib tsaura xūn material-e ǃhorobēhe tsî ǃnā hâ ǁgammi ǀkha sîsenbē-ū xusa (Dredger) xu ra ǁnâxuhe. Nēs ge tsaura ǂomab ‘Plume’ ti ǂansa xū-e ra kuru, ǁî–i ge neti i sîsenngu ǃnâ a ǁnaetihesa xū-e. ǂNamipeb tsî ǀhûhâsiba tsâǀkhās sîsenǂuigu (ESIA) ǃâb ase i ge nē tsaura ǂomab ‘Plume’ e ksise ǃgâise aiǁgauhe tsî ôaǃnâhe hâ ǁkhāǁkhāǃnâǂansen xa. Nē ôaǃnâs ge ‘Plume’ i ǃnāsase nē mainǁaxasi lisensies ǃkhaib ǂgānaga nî ǁna tsî ǀōrose ǃhūb hurib ǂnamipeba nî tsâǀkhā ti ge ǀamǀam. Nēsa ǃnā hâ se ǂNamipeb tsî ǀhûhâsiba tsâǀkhās sîsenǂuigu (ESIA) ǃâ se i ge anu ǁapoǁaposis tsî kōǃgâs ǀapeǁguide ǃkhōǂgāhe hâ ǀams ǂnamipeb ǂgaeǂgui ǀapen (EMP) projeks din ǃaroma.
‘Plume’ ǀgaruǀgarus, ǁgam ǃâgu chemie i, tsî ǃgāxa ǁkhāǁkhāǃnâǂanse ôaǃnâdi hoadi ge nēsis kōse ǃkhōǂuihe hâ Sandpiper Projeks ǂnamipeb tsâǀkhās ôaǃnâdi ǃâ se. Nē ǂanse ôaǃnâdi ge ǀgaisase i Benguela huri ǂnamipeb tamas ka io ǁamaxuǃkhai ǁauǃkhō kuruǂharugub hoa se nē sîsenbē ǁaxasigu tsî tsaura ǂomaba ǁgammi ǃnâ aoxūs xa tsâǀkhāhe tide ti ǀamǀam hâ. Huri ǁgoeǃkhaib hîa nē mainǁaxasi ǃkhaib ǃnâ ǁgoeb ge 2.5m gu ǃgāmsiba nî khaohe, xawe i ge Sandpiper Projeks di ǂnamipeb ǂgaeǂgui ǀapesa ra ǂgaoǀkha ǃnāga ǁgoe ǃhaob (phosphate ǃkhaib ǃnāga) ǃaihe tide ǃkhaisa tsî i ǂhanihe tama soagu huri ǁgoeǃkhaib diga mainǁaxasigu ǃkhaib ǃnâ nî xūhe ǃkhaisa i ī huri ǁgoeǃkhaib ‘benthos’ ǃkhaiba ǂnūbīkhâis ǀkha ǂhâǃnâ. Mainǁaxasi ǃkhaib di sîsenbēs ge ǃkhoe-garu tama tsî ǁaubexa ǃnona (3) ǃnadi ǀguide wekheb ǃnâ nî dihe (aiǁgause huri ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasi kuruǂharugub hîa tsēs hoasa ra ǃkhoeb ose), ǁnâ amaga i ge ǂomab ‘plume’ i hîa nî kuruhe e ǀgarus ǃaroma ǁaeba nî ūhâ sîsenbē ǁaedi ǁaegub ǃnâ tsî nēs ǀkha hurib ǂnamipeba ǀgaisase tsâǀkhāhe sa ra ǀoroǀoro.
Ā. Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) ǂganǂgās ge ǀgaisase kōǃgâhe tsî ǃgomsina ǃoa hâ Uranium kuruǂharugub ge ǁî-i tsoastsoas ǃnâ a ǃoa khami.
Nē ǀaeses ge NMPsa 2022ǁî kurib di ǂNūǁnâiseb ǃnâ ǂnamipeb tsî ǀhûhâsiba ra tsâǀkhā ôaǃnâdi (ESIA) tsî ǂnamipeb ǂgaeǂgui ǀapes (EMP) tsîna māǂgā hâ, Mainǁaxasi Lisensies ML170s Environmental Clearance Certificate i di ǂganǂgās ǃâ se. Nēs aiǃâ īs ge NMPsa 2011ǁî kuriba xu ǂnamipeba tsâǀkhās ôaǃnâdi tsî ǁkhāǁkhāǃnâǂanse ôaǃnâdi tsîna rs ǃkhōǂui. Nē ǃnurigu ge ǂNamipeb tsî ǃNarisarimas Ministris tawa a hōhe ǁkhā. ǂNamipeb tsî ǀHûhâsiba tsâǀkhās tsî ǂanse ôaǃnâdi nēdi ge haka (4) ǃnādi kōse ǃaugaba xu kōǃgâhe hâ, nēs ge ǀaese 2023ǁî kurib ǃnâ ǂNamipeb mûǂam-ao-i xa ǁgaumâihe hâ ôaǃnâ-aon xa sa.
ǂNamipeb tsî ǀHûhâsiba tsâǀkhās ôaǃnâdi, ǂhâǃnâ ra ǀguri ma ǂanse ǃnurigu, tsî ǃaugab kōǃgâ-aon ǃnurigu ge hoase ǀhao hâ se ra ǀamǀam Sandpiper Projeks ǀgaisase Benguela gammi Kai hurib hâǃkhaib, huri ǂnamipeb, tamas ka io ǁau ǁamaxu kuruǂharugub Namibiab dib tsâǀkhāhe tide ti.
Nēs kōse ǃkhōǂuihe hâ ǀguri mā ǂanse ǃnurigu di ǀguib tsîn ge mâi-aiǃâhe hâ phosphate sîsenbēs ǃoagu ǀapemā tama. Hoa ǃnurigu ra ǀamǀams ge Sandpiper Projeks ǀgaisase Namibiab huri ǂnamipeb tamas ka io Benguela kai huri ǃkhaiba tsâǀkhā tide sa. ǃNurigu tsîn ge phosphate mainǁaxasigu ge “ǂnamipeba nî ǂkhôa” tamas ka io “ǁauǃkhō kuruǂharuguba nî ǃgam” ti ra ǁgaehe ǂhansendi ǀhûhâsib di di hîa ǂhâǃnâhe tama de ra māǃoa/ǁgoeǁkhae.
Matikō ǂanse ôaǃnâde ge ǃkhōǂuihe ǂnamipeba tsâǀkhāhes ôaǃnâdi sîsenǂuib ǃnâ?
ǀGamdisiǁkhaisaǀā (28) ǂanse ǃnurigu ge dītoahe hâ, ǃkharagagu ǀgaugu hîab ǂnamipeba mâi-aiǃâhe hâ sîsenbēs ML170s digu xa a tsâǀkhāhe ǁkhā ôaǃnâdi di ga.
* Nē ǃnurigu ge NMP’s website i tamas ka io ǂNamipeb tsî ǃNarisarimas Ministris tawa a hōhe ǁkhā.
Ā. ǃHūb tsî ǀkharisi ôaǃnâdi ge ra ǃkhō-am huri phosphate mainǁaxasigu ǁauǃkhōs (tsî nau huri ǁaxasi kuruǂharugun) ǀkha a ûiǁare ǁkhā ǃkhaisa, ǁauǃkhōs aiǁgause ǀnai hâ huri ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasigu ǀkha Namibiab ǃnâ ûiǁare hâ khami. Māǂuihe hâ ǁgaeǂuis nē ǀguri mā ǂanse ǃnurigu ra ǀamǀams ge, Sandpiper Projeks “ǁauǃkhō kuruǂharuguba ra ǃgam” tide sa ǀnî ǂhôa ǃnurigu ǁgae hâ khami. Huri ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasi kuruǂharugub ge ǁauǃkhō kuruǂharugub ǀkha 30 kurina ǃkharuhâse ûiǁare hâ, tsî ǃnāsa xu ǃnās ǀkha ǃkhōǂuihe hâ ǂnamipeb ôaǃnâdi (Namibiab di ai-mā hâ ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasi ǂharugus NamDebs xa 30 kurina ǃkharuhâse ǃkhōǂuihe hâ di) ge ǀgaisa ǁgauǂuide ūhâ, ǀnoreluina hōs ǃaroma ra hâ sîsenbēs tsî khaokhâidi khaoǃgâb huri ǁgoeǃkhaiba ra ǂgau ǃkhaisa (source: the 2008 BCLME study on cumulative impacts of seabed mining in Namibia by Pisces Environmental Consultant).
ǁGauǂuihe i hâs a o, ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasigu ǁauǃkhō kuruǂharuguba tsâǀkhā tama hâ sa, o i ge huri phosphate mainǁaxasigu hîa huri ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasigu xa ǂkhariro ǃharib ai nî ǃkhōǂuihe ga, ǁauǃkhō kuruǂharugub ǀkha a ûiǁare ǁkhā.
Hî-î. NMPs mainǁaxasigu (ǀgui (1) xūri-ūdas ai ra aimûǀgaruhe se) ge 2.5km2 ī kōse ra i ǃkhaib huri ǁgoeǃkhaib diba kurikorobe (ǁaubexa 1.7 km2 e kurikorobe 20 kurina ǃnā hâ ǁaeba) nî tsâǀkhā. ǀGōpeǁnō ra se, kurikorobe i ge Namibiab ǃnâ lnorelui mainǁaxasiga hû (7) xūri-ūda di ǀkha ǁaubexa 10-15km2 ǃkhaiba ra tsâǀkhā, ǁauǃkhōs ǁaxasigu ǁaubexa 18,000 km2 e kurikorobe ra tsâǀkhā hîa.
NMPs ǁaxasigu ge ǁaubexa 34km2 ǃkhaiba ǀhao hâse, 20 kurin ûiǁaeba phosphate mainǁaxasigu ǀkha nî tsâǀkhā. ǀGōpeǁnō e ī gara o, ǀhao hâ se Debmarine Namibias ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasigu ǃkharu hâ 20 kurin din ǀkha, tsoastsoas ge ǁaeba (2000s) xu, o i ge ǀhae ī ra sa ǃoa ǁîsa 3% i ǁîs 6000km2 mainǁaxasi lisensies ǃkhaib di e (180km2) khao hâ. (source: Resource development – Operations | Debmarine Namibia).
ǁGauǂuis ge hâ ǁapoǁapo ra sa huri ǁgoeǃkhaib khaokhâis khaoǃgâ ra ǂgau sa ǁgam ǃgamsib ai mûmâiǃgâhe hâse, Nēs ge ǃnākorobes NamDebsa 30 kurin ǁaeba huri ǀnoreǀui ǁaxasigu ǃaroma ǂomaba huri ǁgoeǃkhaiba xu ra khaokhâi ǃkais ǃaroma ǃkhōǂui hâ ôaǃnâdi ǃoa sa.
Ā. ǂOmab hîa huri ǁgoeǃkhaiba xu nî sîsenǂuiheb ge xūri-ūdas ǃnâ sâu-mâihe tsî ǃhūb ai hâ sîsen-ǃkhaiba ǃoa nî ī ūhe phosphate sîsenǂuib ǃaroma. Nē sîsenǂuib ǁaeb ǃnâ i ge hoa ǂommab hîa phosphate i sîsenǂuib ǃnâ hâ tide se ī ba ūhe tsî ‘Tailings Storage Facility’ (TSF) ti mî ra ǀonǂgaihe ǃkhaib ǃnâ nî sâu-mâihe.
Hî-î. Huri phosphate ǀuriǀui-e sîsenūhe ǁkhā xūn ǃnâ kurus ǃaroma i ge hurib ǁgam-i, maganies ‘spiral’ i, tsî kaisiba kō ūs ǁgaban tsîna ra sîsenūhe ǃgari tsî tsaura xūna ūbes ǃaroma. Sandpiper Projeks ǃaroma phosphate-e sîsenbēs ǁaxasigu ǃnâ i ge ǃgāxa tamas ka io ǁkhō chemiese xūna sîsenūhe tama hâ.
1990ǁî kurib ǃhūb ǃnorasa xub ge Namibiaba ǂNamipeb ǃhūb ǂhanuga omkhâi hâ kai kuruǂharugu gu ra ǂharugu-ǃnâ ga 35 kurin ǁaeba , ǃhūb ǃnâs tsî hurib ǃnâs tsîna, aiǁgause huri ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasi kuruǂharugub khami.
ǃGâi ǁGaragu: Namibiab ge ǃgâi ǁgaraga ǀapo ǂgaeǂguis ǃaroma ūhâ tsî ǃkharagagu kuruǂharugu hōǂgāde ra kōǃgâ, aiǁgause huri ǀnoreǀui mainǁaxasigu tsî Uranium sîsenǂuigu khami. Namibiab ǂnamipeb ǁgaragu ge kaise ǃhūbaib ǃnâ ǀgapi-ǃgôahe hâ tsî ǀgaisase ǂhanub xa ǁguiǂgāhe hâ 1990ǁî kurib ǃhūb ǃnorasa xu, ǂNamipeb tsî ǃNarisarimas Ministris ǂgaeǂguis ǃnāga.
Nē ǃereamte (FAQ) gye nēti ǀgapi-ase tsî ǃgãati-ase xoa-mâisiba xu tura-mâisandi tsî ǂanǂansidi hā nē amase ǀgoraba xu am-ǃnâse !gae-tshisise ǀgora-mâisiga omaru-tshisiba. ǂAnǂasiga am-ǃnâse tsî ǀgai-ase xu omaru-tshisiba ra ao-ǃgâ, xawe ǀkhari ǀgaubadi ǁkhu-ǁkhusibadi ra hā-ǁkhā. Nē ǂan-ǂansisa xu ǃgâ-ǃgâsibadi, ǂgae-ǂgaesibadi tamasga ǃgãa-ǃgâsibadi ǃnâ-ū, gao-ao ra ǁkhā mē sado da sĩ-he nē ǁgoa-ǂansiga sado ǁga om-mâisibes info@namphos.com ǃnâ-ū nē ǀgora-mâisiga ǃereamese.
Ophosphate oyi li ya tengenekwa kIigwana yaHangana ongo oshitopolwa oshinene mekwashilipale ko negamenene po lyiikulya.
Ontopo ndjoka yi na o phosphate oyi na wo o elemente ndjoka tayi ithanwa kutya o phosphorus. O phosphorus oyi li ya simana oshoka oha yi kwathele oku kokeka iimeno, iinamwenyo nosho wo aantu. Kape na epengene po lyo phosphorus. Onkene, oelemente ndjika oyi li ya pumbiwa menduluke po lyuuhoho nosho wo iikulya yiinamwenyo mbyoka tayi kwashilipale ke oku koka kwa yo.
Mongaashingeyi, o phosphate oyi li ya hogolowa onga oshilyo oshinene megamenene po nekwashilipaleko po lyiikulya kiilongo ngaashi Canada, New Zealand Australia nosho wo omahango ngaashi Iigwana yaHangana.
O phosphate oyi li wo ya ulike yi na omauwanawa ogendji ngele oya pingene po o elemente ndjoka yo cobalt ndjoka yi li ha yi longithwa oku ninga oopatilii dhoka dhi na o elemente yo lithium.
O phosphate oyili onzo wuuwindhji mboka tau adhika komunkulofuta gwaNamibia, mefuta lya Atlatic. Onzo ndjika ota yi adhika mefuta muule woometa o 180 sigo oometa 200. Omanongonono nomakonaakono ngoka ga ningwa moomvula dha pita noga ningwa paendondo dhopombanda oga ulike kutya onzo ndjika oyi li pauwindji tau vulu oku minwa noku kwashilipaleka omauwanawa kiigwana oyindji yuuyuni. O poloyeka oya li ya pewa uuthemba yi tameke moondjindikila tadhi ithanwa kutya o mining licence onomola 170, yi na uunene woo hekta omayovi gaali omathele gatatu omilongo ndatu nane (nenge o 2 334 km2). Uuthemba mbuno owa li wa gandjwa kuuministeli woomina uulethimbo woomvula omilongo mbali. Onzo yo phosphate owu li wa tengenekwa wulu pomuthika gwo pombanda na otadhi kwashilipaleke iiyemo oyindji.
Onzo yo phosphate oyi thike peni: omakonaakono nomanongonono ogu ulike kutya onzo yo phosphate oyi thike poomiliona ootona ethele limwe omilongo ndatu na mbali, oshinkwanu omilongo heyali na Hamano (132.76 Mt) moopelesenta omilingo mbali oshinkwanu omilongo ne na yimwe (20.41%).
Onzo yo phosphate:
Uushona wo phosphate tau vulu oku minwa owa tengenekwa poopelesenda omulongo nantano (15%).
NMP ehangano lya totwa moNamibia, na olyi li metsokumwe nomahangano galwe moNamibia. Oopelesenda omilongo hetatu na ntano (85%) dhehangano lyo NMP odhili dha gamenenwa po kehangano lyedhina Oman-based Mawarid Mining LLC, noopelesenda omulongo na ntano (15%) odha gamenenwa po kehango lyedhina Havana Investement (Pty) Ltd.
Namibia ota ka mona iiyemo yopashigwana poondondo dha yooloka. Omauwanawa ongaashi:
Sho oshikondo sho phosphate moNamibia tashi putuka, ota pu ka kala ompito yoku tota po nenege oku ninga oonkaladhala dho ku kutha o phosphate momamanya tashi ningwa mokukalo nopandondo yopombanda. Ophosphate ndjika ota yi tengenekwa kutya otayi ka kala yo pandondo yopombanda ndjoka tayi ka vula wo okulongithwa kanafaalama moNamibia na otashi shi ka kwathela megwanenepo lyiikulya moNamibia.
Opoloyeka otayi ka yambula po iiyemo momuthingoloko gwa Walvis Bay, oshitopolwa sha Erongo nosho wo otayi ka indjipaleka iiyemo kepangelo lyaNamibia moku pitila moompito dhiilonga, nosho wo iiyemo mbyoka hayi futwa kepangelo. Oompito dhiilonga otadhi ka kwashilipaleka kutya mboka ya kutwa otaa mono iiyemo nosho wo aniilonga yomahangano ngoka taga ka pewa oompito dhokuyambidhidha opoloyeka. Oompito dhika odha tengenekwa tadhi ka kala po okuza petameko lyopoloyeka. Aniilonga otaa ka kala wo ye na oompito dhoku mona omadheulo ngoka taga yambula po uunongo wawo.
Pompito mpaka, okwa tengenekwa opoloyeka tayi ka longo uule woomvula omilongo mbali, na okwa tengenekwa kutya ootona oomiliona ntano oshikwanu ntano tadhi ka minwa kehe momvula. Ondondo ndjika yoku mina ota yi ka kwashilipaleka kutya onzo yo phosphate oya minwa pamukalo gwa nengeneka na otashi vulu oomvula dho ku mina dhi ka thike poomvula ethele.
Okwa tengenekwa kutya omukalo goku mina o phosphate otagu ka kutha ontopo noshowo oonzo dhilwe dhomefuta momukalo hagu ithanwa o ‘’Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD)’’ muule wa tengenekwa pokati koometa omathele gaali (200 m) sigo omathele gaali nomilongo ntano (250 m) moondjindikila ndhoka dhonomola ethele nomilongo heyali (ML 170). Uunene wefuta tau ka ka minwa momvula owu thike poohekta omathele gaali nomilongo ntano (nenge o 2.5 km2), mboka konyala tau yelekwanithwa noohekta ethele nomilongo heyali (nenge 1.7 km2) momvula uulethimbo woomvula omilongo mbali (20) ndhoka dha tengenekwa dho poloyeka. Uunene wehala tau ka minwa otau yelekwanithwa wo noopelesenda onola oshinkwanu yimwe (0.1%) woondjindikila ndhoka dha gandjelwa opoloyeka noshowo oopelesenda onola oshinkwanu onola onola mbali (0.002%) dhomunkulofuta gwaNamibia ngoka gwa gamenenwa po.
Ehala ndyoka tali ka ulika lya yonagulwa moomvula omilongo mbali dho ku mina olyi thike poohekta omayovi gatatu nomathele ga ne. Ehala ndika ota li yelekanithwa nopelesenda yimwe oshinkwanu ntano (1.5%) wehala ndyoka lya uthilwa okuminwa nosho wo oopelesenda onola oshinkwanu onola nandatu (0.03%) wontopo yomefuta. Ethano lya gandjwa pevi otali ulike uunene wehala mboka tau ka minwa momvula kehe mokuyelekanitha nomahala ngoka ga minwa okawe nosho ngoka ga minwa koshikondo shoohi. Iikondo mbika oyi li ta yi longo ngaashingeyi mefuta lya Atlatic Ocean.
Omukalo goku mina o phosphate montopo komunkulofuta gwaNamibia otagu ka ningwa momukalo gopashinanena hagu ithanwa o conventional Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD). Ontopo otayi ka kuthwa komunkulofuta momeya ngoka ga gamenenwa po kepangelo lyaNamibia. Ontopo ndjoka ya kuthwa komunkulofuta otayi ka etwa komutunda opo ophosphate yi dhindwe m otaku ka longithwa omikalo dhopashinanena. Namibia ngaashingeyi oku li ena ooveta nomilanduthaneko dhoka dha gamenena po uushitwe nosho wo oonzo dhuushitwe. Ooveta ndhika odhili tadhi lundululwa opo dhi faathanithwe noonkalo dho pashinanena. Ooveta ndhoka tadhi lundululwa nodha yama kopoloyeka ndjika ongaashi o Marine Spatial Planning nosho wo o Blue Economy Policy, ndhoka tadhi lundululwa opo dhi kwashilipaleke egamenenepo lyoshikondo shin a sha noonzo dhomefuta nosho wo omandiki ngoka haga mina oonzo dhomefuta.
Omukalo ngoka tagu ka longithwa oku kutha ontopo komunkulofuta otagu ulike kutya evi noshowo oonzo dhimwe dho momeya otadhi ka thigala momeya okupitila moshihupulo shoka tashi ka longithwa. Omukalo nguka otagu ka kwashilipaleka wo kutya evi lyo faena ota li ka kunguluka noku shuna montopo. Shino oshili omukalo gwa faathanithwa niikondo yilwe wo mbyoka hayi longo mefuta. Omakonaakono goludhi nduno oga li ga ningwa komukonaakoni nomunawino miipambele yoonzo dhomefuta a ithikamenena po pethimbo omapekaapeko ga li taga ningwa kombinga yo poloyeka nomuthingoloko (paufupi taku ithanwa kutya o ESIA). Oshizemo shomapekaapeko oga li ga ulike noku kwashilipaleka kutya evi lyo faena otali ka kunguluka sigo omontopo komunkululofuta, na shika otashi ka kala ashike moondjindikila dho poloyeka. Uuna opoloyeka ya tameke, shika otashi ka kwashilipalekwa komakonaakono taga ka ningwa noga uthwa momushangwa go poloyeka ngoka tagu thamuna ekalekopo nawa lyomudhingoloko nuushitwe (omushangwa tagu ithanwa paufupi o EMP).
Omakonaakono galwe ga ningwa kaakonaakoni ya ithikamena po ongaashi ngoka gena sha noonzo dhoka tadhi adhika momeya nosho wo ootokositi dhomeya gefuta. Aakonaakoni oya li ya kwashilipaleke noku thamuna kutya opoloyeka itai ka kala yin a omauwinayi ga indjipala ngoka ta ga ka yonagulapo omuthingoloko gwefuta nosho wo iikondo yilwe mbyoka hayi longo mefuta, unene oshikondo shoohi. Ontopo ndjoka tayi ka minwa oyi li ashike oometa mabli oshinkwanu ntano (2.5 m). Omushangwa go poloyeka ngoka guna sha negameneno po lyomudhingoloko oguli gwa thamuna kutya ontopo yomuulule otaga ka gamenenwa po, opo evi lyi gongale nawa konima yethimbo. Ontopo komunkulofuta ota yi ka minwa ashike konyala iikando itatu moshiwike (shika inashi faathana miikondo yoku mina okawe mbyoka hayi mina kehe esiku moshiwike). Oluthuwo nomukalo nguka goku mina ontopo otagu ka kwashilipaleka kutya evi olya gongala nawa no ontopo yi gongale konima yethimbo.
Eeno. Eindilo lyombaapila ndyoka tayi pitike o poloyeka yi takmeke olya li lya konaakonwa iikando oyindji, na olyi li lya mono omaimbo ogendji ngoka taga faathanithwa nomaindilo ngoka gali ga ningwa pethimbo oshikondo sho uranium sha li tashi totwa moNamibia.
NMP okwa ningile eindilo ndika muKotomba gomvula omayovi gaali nomilongo mbali na mbali (2022). Omanga eindilo ndika ina li ningwa, okuza omvula omayovi gaali nomulongo na yimwe (2011), NMP okwa kala noku ninga omapekaapeko genasha nonkalo nawa yomudhingoloko na okwa kala noku yambidhithwa kakonaakoni mboka yi ithikamenena po. Oolopota dhika odhili dha andjanganekwa noshigwana shaNamibia oku pitilila muuMinisteli mboka wu lile po omidhingoloko, iimeno nomatalelepo moshilongo. Oolopota ndhika dha nyanyangidhwa ku NMP, odha li dha sinononwa kaakonakonwa mboka yi ithikamenena po iikando ine (4). Oshikando sha huguninwa osha li sha ningwa momvula omayovi gaali nomilongo mbali na ndatu. Ponkatu mpoka, omakonaakono nomasimonono ogali ga ningwa komukonaakoni a ulikwa ku komissi ngoka ena sha nomuthingoloko.
Omishangwa dhoka dha li dha nyanyangidhwa shi na sha nomaupyakadhi ngo taga ka etwa po ko poloyeka momudhingoloko osho wo aakonaakoni yi ithikamena po ya kuthwa kepangelo odhi li dha ulike kutya o poloyeka yo Sandpiper itayi ka eta omapiyagano omanene koonzo dhomefuta nosho wo oshikondo shoohi ngoka itaga vulu oku takamithwa.
Oolopota adhihe dha nyanyangidhwa kaakonaakoni yi ithikamenena po kadhi li ompinge no poloyeka yo phosphate. Oolopta adhihe odhili dha ulike kutya o opoloyeka yo Sandpiper ita yi ka kala ya eta omapiyagano nomayonagulo koonzo dhomefuta nosho wo oshikondo shoohi. Oolopota odhili wo dha thamuna noku yeleka kutya omapopyo moshigwana taga ti o poloyeka yo Sandpiper ota yi ka yona po omudhingoloko no ku dhipaga po oshikondo shoohi inaga ikwatelela kuumbangi wa sha.
Omakonaakono ga ngapi gali ga ningwa ngoka gi ithikamenena po? Oolopota omilongo mbali na hetatu (28) odha li dha nyanyangidhwa. Oolopota dhika odha li dha yoolokathana na odha li dhi ikwatelela kiitopolwa ya yoolokathana yi na sha no poloyeka moondjindikila ndhoka uthwa dhethele nomilongo heyali (ML 170).
*Oolopota dhika otadhi adhika kepandja lya NMP lyopaungomba (NMP’s website) nosho wo kepandja lyuuMinisteli womidhingoloko, iimeno nosho wo omatalelopo moshilongo (MEFT).
Eeno. Omishangwa dha nyanyangidhwa mongaashingeyi odha ulika kutya iikondo otayi vulu okulonga pamwe. Oshiholelwa sha faathana oshi oshikondo sho ku mina okawe mefuta sha vula oku longa pamwe noshikondo shoohi moomvula dha ka pita, na oshi li wo tashi tsikile. Aakonaakoni yi ithikamena po oya thamuna wo kutya o poloyeka yo Sandpiper ita yi ka dhipaga po oshikondo shoohi, ngaashi sha kala noku lopotwa kiikundaneki. Oshokindo shoku mina okawe mefuta osha kala noku longa moNamibia uule woomvula omilongo ndatu (30), nomaakonaakono ga genasha nomudhingoloko ga ningwa kehangano lyoNamDeb konyala oomvula omilongo ndatu (30) dha pita oge li ga ulike uumbangi kutya ontopo ndjoka ya minwa oha yi vulu oku kala nawa konima yoku mina okawe (ontopolwa ndjika oya kuthwa momushangwa ngu: the 2008 BCLME study on cumulative impacts of seabed mining in Namibia by Pisces Environmental Consultant).
Omanga kwa kwashilipalekwa kutya oshikondo shoku mina okawe mefuta oshi li tashi longo pamwe noshikondo shoohi, nena otatu tengeneke kutya o poloyeka yo marine phosphate otayi vulu wo oku longa pamwe noshikondo shoohi oshoka yo otayi ka longa pehala eshona okuyelekanitha noshikondo shoku mina okawe mefuta shoka shi na ehala enene lyoku longa.
Ahawe. NMP ota ka mina ontopo mehala eshona lela nao ta ka longitha ashike obautu yimwe. Ehala ndoka lya tengenekwa oli li konyala oohekta omathele gaali nomilongo ntano momvula (oohekta o250) moomvula omilongo mbali (20) dhoka dha tengenekwa dhoku mina. Okuyelekanitha, oshikondo shoku mina okawe mefuta moNamibia ohashi longitha oobautu heyali (7), na ohashi longo konyala mehala okuza poohekta evoyi (1000) sigo oohekta evoyi limwe nomathele gatano (1 500) momvula. Oshikondo shoohi ohashi longo mehala li vule oohekta omiliona yimwe nomayovi omathele ga hetatu (oohekta 1 800 000) momvula.
Ehala lyoka tali ka longithwa kuNMP otali ihile ashike poohekta omayovi gatatu nomathele ga ne (oohekta o3 400) moomvula omilongo mbali (20). Okuyelekanitha, ota ku tegenekwa kutya ehala ndyoka lya longithwa ku Debmarine Namibia okuza momvula omayovi gaali (2000), olya kalela po konyala oopelesenta ndatu (3%) lyoo hekta omayovi omathele ga hamano (oohekta o 600 000) (nenge o 180 km2) muka ya uthwa ya mine okawe (onzo: Resource development – Operations | Debmarine Namibia).
Pompito mpaka ope na uumbangi tau ulike kutya omunkulofuta otagu ka tya hwepo konima yoku mina okawe. Shika oshi ikwatelela koolopota dhoka dha nyanyangidhwa kuNamdeb moomvula omilongo ndatu (30) dha ka pita (ontopolwa ndjika oya kuthwa momushangwa ngu: the 2008 BCLME study by Pisces Environmental Consultants).
Eeno. Ontopo ndjoka ya minwa komunkulofuta otayi ka pungulwa mobautu noku falwa komatungilo ngoka taga ka kala kolwaamba nefuta opo yi ka dhindwe. Konima yoku dhindwa, iiyekelwahi ayihe otayi ka pungulwa mehala lyomangululilo, tali ka totwa po lya nuninwa ashike iiyekelwahi yo poloyeka (ehala tali ithanwa o TSF paufupi). Iiyekelwahi ayihe yo poloyeka itayi ka ekelwahi mefuta.
Ahawe. Omukalo tagu ka longithwa oku nduluka o phosphate otagu ka longitha ashike omeya gefuta nosho wo omashina gopashinanena ngoka taga ka kutha noku dhinda mo iiyagaya mbyoka ina yi pumbiwa. Ookemikala itadhi ka longithwa mokunduluka po o phosphate.
Okuza momumvo 1990 sho Namibia a manguluka, ooveta nomisindalandu dhi na sha negameneno po lyomudhingoloko nuushitwe odha li dha totwa dhoka dha kala noku wilika oshikondo shoomina konima yoomvula omilongo ndatu na ntano (35) dha ka pita. Oshiholelwa oshikondo shoka sho ku mina okawe mefuta.
Ooveta nomosindalandu dhoka omiwanawa: Namibia oku na omisalandu omiwanawa ngaashi ndhoka dhi na sha netakamitho nawa lyiiyekelwahi, nosho wo oku ninga omatelelo goo poloyeka dha yoolokathana. Omisandalandu nooveta dhaNamibia dhoka dhi na sha negamenene po nawa lyomidhingolo nuushitwe odhi li dhimwer ndhoka lopotwa ombwaanawa muuyuni. Epangelo lyaNamibia olyi li ta li tsikile no ku kwashilipaleke kutya omilandu dha totomonwa momisindalandu dhika otadhi iuthwa kudho oku pitila muuMinisteli womidhingoloko, iimeno nosho omatelelo po moshilongo.
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Fosfaat word deur die Verenigde Nasies as ’n kritieke element vir voedselsekerheid beskou.
Fosfaatneerslae bevat fosfor, wat ’n noodsaaklike element is vir groei in plante, diere en mense. Daar is geen kunsmatige plaasvervanger vir fosfor vir hierdie doel nie. Dit is dus ’n noodsaaklike bestanddeel wat gebruik word in die vervaardiging van kunsmis en dierevoer om gesondheid en groei te bevorder en te onderhou.
Fosfaat word daarom toenemend deur lande soos Kanada, Nieu-Seeland en Australië, asook organisasies soos die Verenigde Nasies, as ’n kritieke mineraal vir voedselsekerheid erken en gelys.
Meer onlangs het fosfaat ook beduidende tegniese en omgewingsvoordele getoon wanneer dit as ’n alternatief vir hoogs giftige metale soos kobalt gebruik word in die vervaardiging van litium-yster-fosfaat batterye vir die groen-energie en elektriese voertuigsektore.
Die Sandpiper Projek is ’n pelletal-fosforiet hulpbron op die kontinentale plat langs die weskus van Namibië, in die Atlantiese Oseaan, op waterdieptes van 180–250 m. Vorige eksplorasie-aktiwiteite het, volgens internasionaal goedgekeurde standaarde, die bestaan van ’n wêreldklas en ekonomies lewensvatbare mariene fosfaathulpbron bevestig.
Die mynlisensie (ML170), wat ’n area van 2,334 km² dek, is in Junie 2011 toegestaan vir ’n aanvanklike tydperk van 20 jaar. Die mineraalhulpbronne en ertsreserwebasis, wat JORC-nakoming het, is van so ’n grootte en gemiddelde gehalte dat dit die ontwikkeling van ’n langtermyn, ekonomies lewensvatbare mynprojek kan ondersteun.
Die aansoek om omgewingsgoedkeuring is ingedien en is tans hangende. Vereiste openbare konsultasie en projekbewusmakingsaktiwiteite word sedert 2011 uitgevoer en duur steeds voort.
Ertsreserwes: Bewese en Waarskynlike Ertsreserwes van 132.76 Mt teen 20.41% P₂O₅.
Mineraalhulpbronne:
Afsnygraad: Ertsreserwes en Mineraalhulpbronne is beraam teen ’n 15% afsnygraad.
NMP is ’n Namibies-geregistreerde gesamentlike onderneming (JV) wat 85% besit word deur ’n Namibies-geregistreerde en volfiliaal van Mawarid Mining LLC, gebaseer in Oman, en 15% besit word deur ’n 100% Namibiese maatskappy, Havana Investments (Pty) Ltd.
Namibiërs en die nasionale ekonomie sal op verskeie vlakke voordeel trek, insluitend maar nie beperk tot:
Namate die fosfaatbedryf in Namibië ontwikkel, bestaan daar ook potensiaal vir toekomstige afwaartse verwerking van rotsfosfaatkonsentraat deur gebruik te maak van gespesialiseerdeindustriële verwerkingsaanlegte. Dit kan hoër-waarde kunsmisprodukte lewer, nie net vir uitvoer nie, maar ook om landbouproduktiwiteit en voedselsekerheid in Namibië en die streek te versterk.
Die projek sal bydra tot plaaslike, streeks- en nasionale groei deur werksgeleenthede, tantieme (royalties) en belastinginkomste. Permanente direkte poste sowel as indirekte werk in ondersteunende dienste sal geskep word. Dit sluit korttermyn-werk gedurende konstruksie in, sowel as geleenthede vir vaardigheidsontwikkeling en opleiding.
Die voorgestelde ontwikkeling van die tans geïdentifiseerde ertsreserwes sal ’n aanvanklike 20-jaar mynplan ondersteun met ’n jaarlikse herwinning van ongeveer 5.5 miljoen ton per jaar.
Teen hierdie produksievlakke is die geïdentifiseerde fosfaat-mineraalhulpbronne voldoende om volhoubare ontginning teen die voorgestelde tempo vir verskeie geslagte te ondersteun — moontlik tot 100+ jaar.
Die mynoperasie sal die baggering en herwinning van mariene fosfaatdraende sedimente behels deur gebruik te maak van ’n Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) in waterdieptes van 200–250 m binne ML170.
Die skaal van die voorgestelde projek behels ontginning van tot ongeveer 2.5 km² per jaar (’n gemiddeld van 1.7 km² per jaar oor 20 jaar). Dit verteenwoordig ongeveer 0.1% van die mynlisensiegebied en 0.002% van die seebodem op die kontinentale plat binne Namibië se eksklusiewe ekonomiese sone.
Die kumulatiewe impakvoetspoor van baggering sal oor die 20-jaar leeftyd ongeveer 34 km² beslaan. Dit verteenwoordig ongeveer 1.5% van die mynlisensiegebied en 0.03% van die seebodem op die kontinentale plat binne Namibië se eksklusiewe ekonomiese sone. Die infografika hieronder beeld die gebied uit wat jaarliks ontgin sal word in vergelyking met diamantmynbou en die visserybedrywe, wat reeds in die Atlantiese Oseaan teenwoordig is.
Die ontginning van sedimente op die seebodem sal uitgevoer word deur gebruik te maak van ’n konvensionele TSHD-baggerproses. Die herwinning van materiaal van die seebodem in vlak water op die kontinentale plat vir mariene myn doeleindes word wêreldwyd deur een of ander vorm van baggering gedoen.
Namibië beskik reeds oor ’n goed gevestigde minerale en omgewingswetgewende raamwerk, asook bykomende hangende bestuursmaatreëls, insluitend Mariene Ruimtelike Beplanning en ’n Blou Ekonomie-beleid. Dit verseker dat ’n mariene mynbedryf in balans met ander oseaan-gebaseerde bedrywe en aktiwiteite gehandhaaf word.
Tydens die baggerproses bly die baie fyn komponent van die seebodemmateriaal in suspensie en word saam met oortollige water uit die bagger vaartuig vrygestel. Hierdie proses vorm wat bekend staan as ’n fyn sedimentpluim, wat ’n algemene kenmerk van oppervlakgedrewe baggerbedrywighede is.
Die verspreiding van hierdie sedimentpluim is volledig gemodelleer en beoordeel deur spesialiste as deel van die omgewings- en sosiale impakstudie (ESIA). Die studie toon dat die pluim hoofsaaklik binne die grense van die mynlisensiegebied sal versprei en na verwagting ’n lae tot matige impak op die plaaslike mariene omgewing sal hê.
As deel van die ESIA-proses is toepaslike verifikasie-, basislyn- en moniteringsprogramme in die finale omgewingsbestuursplan (EMP) vir die projek ingesluit.
Spesialisstudies oor pluimverspreiding, waterkolomchemie en toksisiteit is reeds uitgevoer. Hierdie studies het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat daar geen beduidende impak op die Benguela-mariene ekosisteem of die kommersiële visbedryf as geheel verwag word nie.
Die seebodem in die myngebied sal tot ’n gemiddelde diepte van 2.5 m ontgin word. Die EMP vereis egter dat die basislaag (onder die fosfaatsone) nie blootgelê mag word nie, en dat korridors van ongestoorde seebodem gelaat moet word om herkolonisasie van bentiese organismes te ondersteun.
Omdat baggerwerk slegs ongeveer 3 keer per week plaasvind (nie deurlopend 24/7 nie), kry die sedimentpluim tyd om tussen siklusse te versprei, wat die algehele impak verder verminder.
Ja. Die aansoekproses vir die omgewingsgoedkeuringssertifikaat (ECC) is deeglik geëvalueer en het soortgelyke uitdagings ondervind as dié wat die uraanbedryf ervaar het tydens sy ontwikkeling in Namibië.
Mees onlangs het NMP ’n omvattende omgewings- en sosiale Impakstudie (ESIA) en Omgewingsbestuursplan (EMP) in Oktober 2022 voltooi en ingedien as deel van die aansoek om ’n ECC vir Mynlisensie ML170. Voor dit het NMP sedert 2011 omgewingsimpakstudies en verskeie spesialisstudies uitgevoer. Hierdie verslae is publiek beskikbaar by die Ministerie van Omgewing, Bosbou en Toerisme (MEFT).
Die ESIA en spesialisstudies is ook vier keer aan onafhanklike eksterne hersiening onderwerp, insluitend die mees onlangse hersiening in 2023 deur konsultante wat deur die Omgewingskommissaris aangestel is.
Die ESIA, die ondersteunende onafhanklike kundige verslae en die eksterne hersiening se verslae het gesamentlik tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die Sandpiper Projek nie ’n beduidende impak op die Benguela-stroom Groot Mariene Ekosisteem, die mariene omgewing of die kommersiële visbedryf in Namibië sal hê nie.
Geen van die onafhanklike kundige verslae wat tot dusver voltooi is, het teen die voorgestelde fosfaatbaggerbedrywighede gewaarsku nie. Inteendeel, al die verslae het bevind dat die Sandpiper Projek nie ’n beduidende impak op Namibië se mariene omgewing of die Benguela Groot Mariene Ekosisteem sal hê nie. Die verslae het ook ongegronde bewerings en openbare kommer weerlê dat fosfaatmynbou “katastrofiese omgewingskade” sal veroorsaak of “die visbedryf sal vernietig.
Hoeveel spesialisstudies is tydens die EIA-proses uitgevoer? 28 spesialisverslae is voltooi wat verskillende aspekte van die potensiële omgewingsimpak van die voorgestelde baggerbedrywighede in ML170 beoordeel.
*Hierdie verslae is beskikbaar op NMP se webwerf of by die Ministerie van Omgewing, Bosbou en Toerisme.
Ja. Gelokaliseerde en streeksstudies bevestig dat mariene fosfaatmynbou saam met vissery (en ander mariene bedrywe) kan bestaan, net soos vissery reeds saam bestaan met die bestaande mariene diamantmynboubedrywighede in Namibië.
Bewyse uit onafhanklike kundige verslae toon dat die Sandpiper Projek nie die visbedryf sal vernietig nie, ten spyte van bewerings in sommige mediaberigte. Die mariene diamantmynboubedryf bestaan reeds vir meer as 30 jaar saam met die visbedryf in Namibië, en herhaalde omgewingsstudies (uitgevoer deur Namibië se voorste mariene diamantmynmaatskappy, NamDeb, oor die afgelope 30 jaar) het sterk bewyse gelewer dat die seebodem wel herstel ná baggeruitgrawings vir mariene diamantontginning Die mariene diamantmynboubedryf bestaan al meer as 30 jaar saam met die visbedryf in Namibië. Herhaalde omgewingsopnames deur NamDeb oor hierdie tydperk toon sterk bewyse dat die seebodem wel herstel ná baggering vir diamantontginning (bron: 2008 BCLME-studie oor kumulatiewe impakte van seebodemmynbou in Namibië deur Pisces Environmental Consultant).
Aangesien bewys is dat mariene diamantmynbou nie die visbedryf benadeel het nie, kan mariene fosfaatmynbou — wat op ’n kleiner skaal sal plaasvind — ook saam met die visbedryf bestaan.
Nee. NMP se mynbou-aktiwiteit (gebaseer op 1 vaartuig) sal ’n area van tot 2.5 km² van die seebodem per jaar beïnvloed (’n gemiddeld van 1.7 km² per jaar oor 20 jaar). Ter vergelyking beïnvloed die diamantmynbou-vloot van 7 vaartuie in Namibië jaarliks na raming ’n area van minstens 10–15 km² per jaar, terwyl kommersiële bodemtreilvissery na raming ’n area van meer as 18 000 km² per jaar beïnvloed.
Die kumulatiewe impakvoetspoor van NMP se bedrywighede sal ’n area van ongeveer 34 km² oor die 20-jaar leeftyd van fosfaatmynbou beslaan. Ter vergelyking word die kumulatiewe area van seebodem wat deur Debmarine Namibia se diamantmynboubedrywighede oor die afgelope 25 jaar, sedert die aanvang daarvan in die vroeë 2000’s, uitgegrawe is, na bewering op ongeveer 3% van hul 6000 km² mynlisensiegebied (d.i. 180 km²) geraam (bron: Resource development – Operations | Debmarine Namibia).
Ja. Daar is oortuigende bewyse dat die seebodem wel herstel ná ontginning, teen verskillende tempo’s afhangend van waterdiepte. Dit is gebaseer op herhaalde omgewingsopnames oor 30 jaar deur NamDeb tydens mariene diamantmynbou (bron: the 2008 BCLME study by Pisces Environmental Consultant).
Ja. Die sediment wat van die seebodem gebagger word, sal in die bak van die baggervaartuig gestoor word en na ’n aanlandige aanleg vervoer word vir verwerking om ’n fosfaatkonsentraatproduk te vervaardig.
Tydens die aanlandige verwerking sal alle prosesresidu, insluitend fyn en growwe sedimentfraksies wat nie deel vorm van die fosfaatkonsentraatproduk nie, deur pype vervoer word na ’n geskikte Slykstortingsfasiliteit (TSF). Geen van die residumateriaal van die aanleg sal in die oseaan gestort word nie.
Nee. Die verrijkingsproses van die mariene fosfaaterts om fosfaatkonsentraat te produseer is ’n meganiese proses wat seewater, meganiese spirale en siftoerusting gebruik om growwe en fyn deeltjies te verwyder.
Geen giftige of potensieel gevaarlike industriële chemikalieë word gebruik om die fosfaatkonsentraatproduk vir die Sandpiper Projek te vervaardig nie.
Sedert onafhanklikheid in 1990 het Namibië omgewingswetgewing ontwikkel wat ’n sterk regulatoriese raamwerk bied waarbinne groot industriële bedrywighede suksesvol funksioneer, beide aan land en op see — byvoorbeeld die mariene diamantmynboubedryf.
Uitstekend Regulasies: Namibië het uitstekende regulasies rakende afvalbestuur en monitering van produksie-aanlegte in verskeie bedrywe, insluitend mariene diamantmynbou en uraanverwerking. Namibiese omgewingswetgewing word as van die beste ter wêreld beskou en word sedert 1990 doeltreffend toegepas deur die regering onder die Ministerie van Omgewing, Bosbou en Toerisme (MEFT).
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