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Sauma braces for fight over Stampriet Basin


THE fight over uranium prospecting and drilling in the Stampriet Basin is set to intensify as the Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mine Association (Sauma) has now become an independent entity capable of suing and being sued.

The association, made up of commercial farmers, who are mainly members of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), and commercial enterprises like lodges, who draw their drinking water from the Stampriet aquifer, are opposed to in-situ leaching operations of Russian company Headspring Investments.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform is currently not processing applications for drilling permits made by prospectors intending to operate within the Stampriet Aquifer Water Control Area, as the ministry is investigating proposed mining activities in sources of drinking water, which may result in pollution.

Some farmers are reportedly denying prospectors access to their farms.

According to the latest issue of the NAU’s newsletter, it appears the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s Mineral Ancillary Rights Commission is inviting individual farmers who are denying prospectors access to their land to appear before the commission to discuss this in respect of applications for additional rights.

The newsletter says legal aid is currently being sought.

In addition to a large financial contribution to Sauma, the NAU has decided to make a year’s salary and office space available to individuals to pay attention to the uranium situation on a full-time basis.

“Sauma will need great financial support to oppose this matter, and is appealing to everyone, whether individual, business or organisation, to contribute and ensure a safe future for our children.”

Farmers’ associations have been encouraged to make financial contributions so that legal expertise can be sought for support.

At least Sauma can count on the minister of agriculture, Calle Schlettwein, to be fighting in its corner.

The minister has on several occasions denounced in-situ leaching in areas with underground water.

At the launch of the third edition of Namibia’s hydrogeological map last year, Schlettwein said the government should hasten to stop potentially harmful exploration and other mining activities currently taking place in areas which have been declared water reserves.

This is to prevent the pollution of groundwater reserves, rendering them unfit for human consumption.

Speaking at this year’s Agricultural Outlook Conference in the capital recently, Schlettwein said to safeguard the quality of groundwater resources, the policy position is that no mineral exploration drilling and in-situ leaching activities will be allowed in any aquifer.

“This is particularly the case for the current proposed exploration drilling activities in the Stampriet area and any other aquifer area,” Schlettwein said.

Headspring Investments has, however, defended its drilling work at the Stampriet basin after the ministry cancelled two prospecting permits after a site visit on 15 October 2021.

The company has drilled 37 boreholes for uranium prospecting.

Andrey Shutov, the president of Uranium One Group, representing Headspring Investments, says all work at the site is being carried out in strict compliance with Namibian laws.

Shutov says the company’s foreign direct investment of more than US$28 million has resulted in the employment of more than 100 people and the transfer of knowledge.

The Stampriet Basin is the largest artesian basin in the country, which covers some 60 000 square kilometres in south-east Namibia, and expands into neighbouring Botswana and South Africa.

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