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The Namib Desert is not the most inhabitable place for humans due o it’s wild inhabitants. But the vast expanse of land is rich in natural mineral resources – everything from diamonds to gold to silver to copper to zinc — and uranium. Mining these natural minerals is the single most important contributor to the Namibian economy. It provides for about a quarter of Namibia’s revenue and accounts for over half of its annual export earnings.
Mining these natural minerals is the single most important contributor to the Namibian economy. It provides for about a quarter of Namibia’s revenue and accounts for over half of its annual export earnings.
Seen as a highly strategic natural resource, uranium was discovered here in the Namib Desert in 1928 and the first commercial uranium mine began operating in 1976.
ubsequently, uranium attracted Namibia’s biggest investment, approximately 5 billion US dollars, from Swakop Uranium – which is a joint venture partnership between China and Namibia. This investment is China’s largest industrial investment in Africa. And today, Swakop Uranium is one of the largest mining employers in the country. On this special edition of Talk Africa, we sit down with the CEO of Swakop Uranium and the governor of the Erongo region to discuss the impact, challenges and opportunities provided by uranium mining in Namibia.
