Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Minister, Calle Schlettwein says he does not support the approval of mining activity in areas where important water resources may be threatened or destroyed.
Schlettwein, speaking during the launch of the country’s latest Hydrogeological Map, called for careful consideration on the impact of the mining activity on water bodies before approval is given.
“I need to touch on a fundamental question we are of recent being confronted with and that is mining in areas where important water resources may be threatened or destroyed. Our stance is that water is most valuable resource without which neither life nor livelihoods are possible and therefore we need to be very careful in our considerations. An activity that would have the potential to destroy (through depletion or pollution) may not be allowed in my opinion,” he said.
Schlettwein said sustainable management of groundwater resources is key to the country’s ability to implement its socio-economic development agenda.
“Of the water used in Namibia 60 % comes from ground water, it sustains lives, livelihoods and industry and businesses. As a semi-arid country that is highly vulnerable to climate change and variability, evidence-based sustainable management of groundwater resources is a necessary condition as the country implements its socio-economic development agenda across generations,” he said.
This comes as environmentalists across the world have criticised the oil exploration activities of ReconAfrica in the Kavango region, stating that it could cause irreparable damage.
