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Orano desalination plant turns to solar


ORANO Mining Namibia continues its focus on reducing the carbon footprint of the Erongo Desalination Plant (EDP) by making the facility more energy efficient.

According to the third issue of the Chamber of Mines’ e-newsletter for 2022, electricity consumption in the current process has been reduced by 40% through an innovative energy recovery system.

It says Orano has also entered a 10-year power-purchase agreement (PPA) with InnoSun Energy Holdings to provide solar electricity to the desalination facility from a 5MW solar plant.

The agreement includes the establishment of the solar plant at the Trekkopje site just north-east of Arandis, from where power will be supplied to the EDP, situated at the coast 35km north of Swakopmund.

This will enable Orano to make the provision of water to the Erongo region from a green electricity source more affordable in the long term, and will greatly contribute to efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the desalination plant.

“This project is part of the Orano group policy to lower its carbon footprint and increase the share of low-carbon electricity at its operating sites worldwide,” the newsletter says.

“Orano is proud of its current contribution to the development of the Erongo region through the desalination plant, and of the contribution of the uranium mining sector to the production of decarbonated electricity.”

The EDP is an important contributor to the overall supply of potable water in the Erongo region, providing a substantial portion of the water supply of Swakopmund, the uranium mines and other industries.

The facility was constructed between 2008 and 2010 by Orano Mining Namibia, which at the time was known as Areva Resources Namibia.

The desalination plant was established to supply water to Orano’s Trekkopje Uranium Mine. At the time this plant was commissioned it was the largest reverse osmosis desalination plant in Southern Africa.

According to the Chamber of Mines, EDP has provided desalinated water safely for 12 years of continuous operation without a single lost-time injury and its environmental management system adheres to the highest standards, as confirmed by ongoing impact testing around the operating site by independent third parties.

In 2021, the Erongo Desalination Plant set a new record by producing 12,7 million cubic metres of fresh water.

The cumulative production since 2013 has now reached over 83 million cubic metres.

Orano Mining Namibia has maintained an impeccable safety record, and has received the highest recognition for mines under care and maintenance from the Namibian Chamber of Mines.

The company continues to carry out environmental monitoring, including the monitoring of rehabilitation trials, biodiversity, groundwater and effluent sampling, weather, as well as air quality and radiation levels.

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