Namibia, though yet to officially classify critical minerals, is strategically positioning itself to harness the opportunities arising from global shifts towards sustainable and greener value chains.
Erasmus Shivolo, the deputy executive director of the mines ministry, highlighted Namibia’s diverse critical mineral reserves, including lithium, cobalt, graphite, rare earth elements, tin, tantalum, and manganese.
Despite the country’s commitment to local value addition and the prohibition of raw exports, operational challenges persist.
Among the critical minerals, lithium projects are in advanced stages, cobalt exploration is underway, graphite has active licenses, rare earth elements await operationalization, and tin and tantalum operations vary in their development stages. Meanwhile, manganese sees activity at the Otjosondu Mine, with exploration licenses granted.
Erasmus Shivolo’s insights, presented at the Mining Expo 2023, shed light on Namibia’s stance on critical minerals, emphasizing a commitment to sustainable supply chains supporting the global energy transition.
The country’s potential in this sector is evident, awaiting further development and operationalization of various projects.
