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Schlettwein to take Omaheke Uranium saga to Cabinet


MINISTER of agriculture, water and land reform Calle Schlettwein will approach the Cabinet to discuss the controversial exploration of uranium in the Omaheke region by a Russian state-owned company.

Schlettwein’s comments come a few days after a consulting company cut ties with an entity exploring for uranium in the Leonardville area.

Residents have over recent months raised red flags about the uranium exploration activities, including contamination concerns of the Stampriet Artesian Basin, the largest basin in the country which expands into South Africa and Botswana.

The water ministry has in the past objected to exploration in the area.

“I am on my way to Cabinet,” Schlettwein said last week when asked what he plans to do about the controversial exploration.

“I am seriously worried that irreversible pollution will occur and that the aquifer is in danger.”

“I am equally concerned about the continuing non-compliance with several permit conditions and consequent non cooperation. We are having an immensely important aquifer under pressure,” Schlettwein said.

He said he was aware of the withdrawal of the consulting company tasked with researching possible pollution to the underground water due to a lack of information.

Schlettwein has in the past criticised the proposed exploration with the potential to contaminate water.

“Irreconcilable differences arose between Environmental Compliance Consultancy (ECC) and Headspring Investments [Uranium One] resulting in ECC to formally withdraw their professional environmental consulting services from the project and the proponent,” said ECC in a statement.

The statement did not specify what the exact “irreconcilable differences” were, but the consulting company reportedly found it difficult to get information from the Russian uranium company. Sources briefed on the matter said ECC requested information from the Russian firm but only received answers that did not include references. This reportedly frustrated the company as it would not allow them to meet deadlines and produce science-based advice.

The ECC reportedly feared they could mislead Namibians into believing the project is safe while it is not.

The uranium debate has dominated public discussions over recent months.

Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE) chief executive Chris Brown said last month that the exploration method being proposed by the Russian company would inevitably result in leakage into the aquifer, which would then become contaminated with radioactive substances.

“The entire Kalahari basin is dependent on groundwater – towns, villages, farms, tourism establishments, irrigation, domestic stock and wildlife. The aquifer system is shared with Botswana and South Africa. Impacts would go far beyond the basin and threaten tourism generally, and export markets for beef and other products,” he said.

Uranium One spokesperson Riaan van Rooyen said last month that they cannot comment on “generalisations, wrong assumptions and slanderous, false accusations. The article has been forwarded to our legal counsel and the case is now sub judice”.





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