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March 25, 2023
Mining (201)
Debmarine revenue surges by 83% in 2022 to N$13.2bn
March 23, 2023
Debmarine Namibia's revenue surged by 83% in 2022 to N$13.2 billion from N$7.2 billion in 2021, owing to increased production, positive consumer demand driving price (12%), augmented by a 20% (N$14.9 vs N$16.8) weakening of the Namibia Dollar against the US Dollar.
Namibia pushes for long-term benefits from mineral resources
March 23, 2023
The Namibian government has intensified its efforts to capitalise on the upcoming oil and gas sector activities and current mining operations.
Geingob considers Masisi’s advice on De Beers
March 22, 2023
President Hage Geingob says the Namibian government is taking into consideration the advice of Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi to seek a greater revenue share from diamonds sold to De Beers.
Askari inks N$31m deal to expand Namibian exploration
March 22, 2023
Askari Metals, an ASX-listed lithium explorer, has signed a N$42-million (Australian $2.5 million) deal with Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., a Chinese battery metals behemoth.
Andrada Mining expects to complete its lithium bulk-testing pilot facility in June and forecasts tin production to increase in 2023 as a result of the plant expansion.
Namibia's mining growth to have little effect on jobs
March 19, 2023
Growth in Namibia's mining sector is not expected to result in an increase in employment, wage growth, or consumption spending, as the sector only contributes 1.8% to total employment.
Forsys Metals Corp's Valencia Uranium has appointed DRA Mineral Projects to conduct trade-off studies for its Norasa Uranium Project in Namibia.
Uranium One has approached the court, seeking to review a decision by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform not to grant it exploration drilling permits.
Rossing Uranium plans 15MW solar plant
March 14, 2023
Rossing Uranium is planning to construct a 15MW solar plant at its mine in Namibia next year in an effort to reduce energy costs, carbon footprint and dependence on third party energy sources.
The High Court has ordered Mines Minister Tom Alweendo to review his refusal to renew the copper project licence of Haib Minerals on EPL 3140 in Namibia.
More...
Knowledge Katti in Namibia oil block deal
March 05, 2023
Canadian company Sintana, together with its subsidiary Custos Investments, has announced an agreement with Woodside Energy for an option to acquire a 56% participating interest in the PEL 87 block offshore Namibia.
Namibia Critical Metals Inc. has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with SGS Canada to begin pilot plant testing on a 5-tonne sample from the Lofdal HREE Deposit in Q3 2023.
The government is grappling with the issue of enhancing local ownership in the country's mineral and oil exploration sectors at the backdrop of a concerning foreign domination.
Cleaver: De Beers operates on premise of fair deals
February 28, 2023
Former CEO of De Beers Group, Bruce Cleaver, says De Beers operates on the premise of offering fair deals to all host governments from the countries they operate in.
"The deal we have in every country is fair and appropriate for every party and the country in which we are in. I am very confident that all our deals are very fair to all our host countries and allow both of us to do what we want to do, which is to invest into the future," said Cleaver.
He said this when asked whether other host countries De Beers operate in will follow Botswana's demand of a higher stake.
Cleaver made the statement after a closed-door meeting with President Hage Geingob and Mines and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo in Windhoek on Tuesday, during which he introduced his successor Al Cook.
Cleaver assured Geingob that he would still be involved with De Beers Group as a Co-Chairman, while Cook would take over as CEO.
This comes after Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi is reported to have threatened to end the sales deal with De Beers if negotiations slated for late June do not turn out favourable.
Under the 2011 agreement De Beers sold 90% of diamonds while Botswana auctioned 10% through its Okavango Diamond Company. In 2020, Botswana’s share was raised to 25%.
"Botswana takes 80 cents from every dollar that comes out of our partnerships, and we take 20%, and I am sure you have heard President Masisi wants a win-win situation and am certain we will achieve that when we negotiate," Cleavers said on Tuesday.
In Namibia, De Beers formed a new joint venture with the Namibian government called Namdeb Holdings, in which De Beers holds a 50% stake and the Namibian government holds the other 50%.
Namdeb is the operator for land-based diamond mines while Debmarine operates the offshore licences.
