The Ministry of Mines and Energy is expected to rescind its decision to cancel a lithium mining licence issued to Xinfeng Investments after Xinfeng Investments won its High Court challenge against the Minister’s decision.
The High Court ruled that although there is evidence that Xinfeng Investments made fraudulent claims in its application for a mining licence, Mines and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo did not have the power to revoke the company’s mining licence.
“The Ministry is aware of the judgement passed in the matter between Xinfeng Investments and the Ministry of Mines and Energy earlier today by the High Court of the Republic of Namibia. The Ministry respects the decision of the court and will abide by it,” said Ministry of Mines and Energy Spokesperson Andreas Simon on Tuesday.
The Ministry and the Chinese company have been at loggerheads amid allegations of mining violations by the company. In November of last year, Xinfeng Investment was accused of exporting 75,000 tonnes of lithium ore to China under the guise of testing purposes. After a visit to the company site by the Mines Ministry, Xinfeng Investment was also found to have already started mining operations despite indicating that they would start mining operations in 2024 after building a processing plant.
Lithium is a critical component in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are used in most personal electronics and electric vehicles.
Namibia has now imposed a ban on the export of unprocessed lithium and other critical minerals.
