Namibia’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has recommended that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism enforce a policy requiring investors to establish dedicated closure plans from the start of production to ensure proper site rehabilitation upon project completion.
A report on illegal lithium mining in Uis, Daures Constituency in the Erongo Region highlights key recommendations, including improved oversight, increased community involvement, and stricter licensing procedures.
The recommendations follow concerns from local communities that mining investors neglect rehabilitation, leaving hazardous open pits that have resulted in livestock and wildlife fatalities.
Key Recommendations:
- Investors must create a separate account for closure plans from the first day of production to fund rehabilitation efforts.
- The Daures Constituency Councillor should collaborate with the Ministry of Mines and Energy to establish a database of all mining activities in the region.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism must ensure Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) officers engage traditional authorities and stakeholders during assessments.
- The Ministry of Mines and Energy should not issue Exclusive Prospecting Licenses (EPLs) before investors obtain consent from traditional authorities.
- The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation should ensure the joint venture between Xinfeng Investment (Pty) Ltd and Long Fire Investment (Pty) Ltd provides health insurance and regular medical check-ups for employees.
The committee’s findings were based on public hearings conducted from May 8-10, 2023, involving traditional authorities, community members, and representatives from Xinfeng Investment and Long Fire Investment.
Community concerns included a lack of consultation on mining licenses, the exclusion of small-scale miners, and language barriers between Namibian workers and Chinese engineers, hindering effective communication.
Although the investigation confirmed that lithium mining operations under EPL 8397 and ML numbers (73409-73418) were legal, it revealed gaps in community engagement and licensing procedures.
The report noted that investors commenced operations without proper consultations with local communities and traditional authorities, contrary to procedural requirements.
The motion to investigate lithium mining in Uis was introduced by Hon. Henny Seibeb on April 5, 2023, received by the Standing Committee on April 12, 2023, and later referred to the Sub-Committee on Mining.
The Parliamentary delegation included Hon. Tjekero Tweya (Chairperson), Hon. Kletus Karondo, Hon. Maria Elago, Hon. Bernardus Swartbooi, and Hon. Maria Kamutali.
