Uranium Mining and Milling in  Namibia

The Alchemist’s WayDr Wotan Swiegers

Director: Chamber of Mines Uranium Institute

“ Read the old books and see the future” Emperor Augustus

Alchemy:Possibly derived word al-kimia. Alchemy is the medieval combination of chemistry, philosophy, and secret lore

aimed at transmuting base metals into gold (by means of the philosopher's stone), and discovering the universal

cure for disease and mortality.

Scientific transmutation has been routinely performed in

many nuclear physics-related laboratories and facilities, like particle accelerators, nuclear power stations and nuclear weapons as a by-product of fission and other physical

processes.

Newton was first an Newton was first an foremost an alchemistforemost an alchemist. He . He was as serious an alchemist was as serious an alchemist

pursuing the occult as he pursuing the occult as he was a scientist clarifying the was a scientist clarifying the calculus and laws of gravity.calculus and laws of gravity.

It is also becoming obvious It is also becoming obvious that the inspiration for that the inspiration for

Newton's laws of light and Newton's laws of light and theory of gravity came from theory of gravity came from

his alchemical work. his alchemical work.

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727),

Generally regarded as the most original and influential

theorist in the history of science.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

July 26, 1875 - June 6, 1961

Carl Jung a Swiss psychiatrist and founder of Analytical Psychology derived his

inspiration from alchemy.He emphasized the importance of

balance and harmony. He cautioned that modern humans rely

too heavily on science and logic and would benefit from integrating spirituality and appreciation of the

unconscious realm.

. Sustainable development is maintaining a delicate balance between

the human need to improve lifestyles and feeling of well-being on one hand, and preserving natural resources and ecosystems, on which we and future

generations depend (Global Development Research Centre).

Voluntary sector initiatives underpinned by a regulatory safety Voluntary sector initiatives underpinned by a regulatory safety net to ensure best net to ensure best practices.practices.

Source: AREVA

Namibia South AfricaPopulation 2,2 million 48 millionUrbanization 33% (2001) 61% (2008)GDP US$8.6 billion US$276.4 billionClassification Upper middle income Upper middle incomeSovereign rating BBB- (Fitch) BBB+ (Fitch)Public debt % of GDP 20% 28%World Economic Forum GCI 74th 45th

Transparency CPI 56th 55th

Unemployment rate 36.7% (2004) 24% (2009)Gini coefficient 0.6 0.578HIV prevalence rate 17.3% (2008) 18.1% (2007)

Namibia: Key Indicators ( Robin Sherbourne)

As a developing country Namibia has to deal with the challenges of poverty, unemployment, a growing demand for energy, a decreased life expectancy and about 100,000 orphans that need education, health and housing.

Uranium exploration, mining, processing and transportation are significant employers of Namibians, with some workforces comprising up to 90 per cent of indigenous employees. The industry's employees are mostly rural and regional residents.

Depending on the number of new uranium mines brought into production some 4000 ‐

6000 new jobs would be created, almost 

doubling the current mine employment level.

1. Beautiful ,democratic and politically stable country2. Fourth largest producer of Uranium in the World

3. Two uranium producing Mines ( Rio Tinto and Langer Heinrich)

4. Two emerging uranium producing Mines ( Areva and Valencia)

5. Three “developing” uranium producing Mines ( Swakop Uranium, Bannerman and Reptile Uranium)

6. Five “promising” uranium producing Mines

Source: AREVA

Namibia: already world number 4

1 0

Mine Resource Grade Mine type Potential

Operational

Rössing 250 Mlb 300 ppm Dynamic acid leaching 4,000-5,500

Langer Heinrich 91.5 Mlb 800 ppm Alkali leaching 1,700-2,400

Under construction

Trekkopje n/a 140 ppm Heap leaching 3,850

Exploration stage

Husab (Rössing South)

267 Mlb 487 ppm Dynamic acid or heap leaching 6,700

Etango 128 Mlb 203 ppm Heap leaching 2,200-3,200

Tumas 85 Mlb 241 ppm 1,000

Valencia 70 Mlb 129 ppm 1,000

Marenica 27.5 Mlb 140 ppm 1,000

Warmbad 5 Mlb 400 ppm

With significant production potential…

Robin Sherbourne

Areva

Valencia

Reptile Uranium

Swakop Uranium

Bannerman Uranium

YearEstimated

No. Employees

2007 2,200

2008 3,000

2011 5,000

2015 7,000

YearEstimated

Power required

2007 45 MW

2008 50 MW

2011 100 MW

2015 150 MW

YearEstimated

No. Dependents

2007 8,000

2008 12,000

2011 20,000

2015 36,000

YearEstimated

Water required

2007 08 (Mm3/a)

2008 10 (Mm3/a)

2011 25 (Mm3/a)

2015 35 (Mm3/a)

Challenge = International Protecting the Brand (best practices and

legislation)Challenge = National

Create harmony with competing and opposing forces ( Public, Government, Mines,

Tourism and Anti- Nuke)Challenge = “Making it stick” with the

currency of ‘goodwill and synergy.’

“ Do not let what you cannot do, interfere with what you can do” John Wooden

Namibia is now the world’s 4th largest producer of uranium and Namibian uranium is produced only for export and is used only for peaceful purposes in civil nuclear power stations overseas.

Uranium is valuable to Namibia both as an export earner and as a

contributor to global climate relief.

Namibia has a significant expansion opportunity, as we have nearly 20% of the world’s uranium recoverable at reasonable cost, yet we supply only 12%

of the 

world market.

The uranium industry is expected to continue to contribute significantly to the Namibian economy. The sector is expected to grow from 5.54% of Namibian GDP in 2008 to 14.78% in 2015. Contribution to the fiscus is expected to more 

than double

from the current N$1.1bn to N$2.6bn in 2015.

1.

Power

(generation, distribution,

consumption)2.

Water

(supply, consumption, waste

water management, groundwater protection)

3.

Housing

(regional and local town

planning)4.

Social infrastructure (Health facilities, recreation facilities, schools)

5.

Regional economy (subcontractors, tourism industry)

6.

Transport

infrastructure,

7.

Ecological sensitivities of Namib environment

8.

Landscape integrity of Namib Naukluft National Park and Erongo region

9.

Mine closure and rehabilitation

Source: Terra MODIS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (2007)

Cum

ulat

ive

envi

ronm

enta

l iss

ues

Four Strategic “ Memes” (GPEE)1.Governance: “ Uranium Stewardship-we are in the Uranium Business”2.People: “ Protecting Man-The “fourth pillar” Radiation Protection3.Environment: “ Protecting the Land and the Brand”4.Economics: “ Without growth nothing but poverty alone would be distributed more evenly ”

International Conventions

Constitutional Directive on the Management of the Environment for present and future generations (Art 95)

Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act ( 5 of 2005)

&

Environmental Management Act (7 of 2007)

Labour Act ( of 1992)-

Health and Safety Regulations

Amendment to the Minerals Act -force international companies to invest in a decommissioning fund

Corporate Governance-Uranium Stewardship

- is not in itself legally defined or subject to a commonly accepted definition- the term is associated with concepts, ideas and principles

that evolve over time. MICHAEL KERR NATURAL ADVANTAGE.

Government

Co-regulation

Source: Chris Johnson Photography (2008)

1.

Uranium Information Centre: Ensure effective communication,  advocacy and correct information dissemination for and about the

Uranium Industry 2.

Uranium Training Centre: Ensure accredited Health, Environment and 

Radiation Safety and Security training courses  for the Uranium Industry3.

Occupational Medical Centre ( WISSARD, REMS & CARE) 

4.

Health, Environment and Radiation Safety and Security (HERSS)  Committee & Working Groups

5.

Implement best practice in Health, Environment and Radiation Safety  and Security in the Uranium Industry

6.

Develop and Implement an in‐house Chamber of Mines Auditing  System

Governance (Uranium Stewardship Committee)

Regulations Stewardship GP GL

Education ( Uranium Institute)

Cod

e of

Con

duct

Rin

g fe

nce-

NSX

HER

SS S

tand

ards

Cum

ulat

ive

Impa

cts

Impl

emen

t HER

SS

WG

Wat

er

WG

Pow

er

WG

SEM

P

Stewardship is a powerful mindset for taking responsibility for you’re actions.

PROTECT MAN,LAND & BRANDPROTECT MAN,LAND & BRAND

USC StandardsUSC Standards

The Namibian Radiation Safety Officers

Handbook

Dr Gunhild von Oertzen

Sponsored by the Uranium 

Stewardship Committee of the 

Chamber of Mines

The Namibian Radiation 

Safety Officers Training 

Course (RSO) (1‐3)

The Namibian Radiation 

Management Plan (RMP)

Namibian Radiation Protection 

Authority(NRPA)

Chamber of Mines Uranium 

Institute (UI)

Training Programme

Uranium Institute & 

Medical Centre

Uniform Occupational 

Standards

Uranium Laboratory  

Workers Information 

System for Surveillance  and Risk Detection ( 

WISSARD)

Independent Health 

Audits & Research  Programme

REMS & CARE

HIV/Aids

Tuberculosis

Hepatitis B

Occupational Diseases

Diseases of Lifestyle

Geological Survey of Namibia (GSN) Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR)

Ministry of Mines and Energy

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for Uranium Mining in Erongo Region

Strategic Environmental Social and Economic Assessment for the “Central Namib Uranium Rush”

The SEA assesses crucial cumulative environmental, social and economic impacts and challenges deriving from uranium exploration and mining operations in the central Namib.

The SEA “Uranium Rush” provides strategic direction to both, the government of Namibia and the uranium industry.

Ura

nium

Pro

ject

Tim

elin

e 2007 2008 2010

Initiate Plan

•Establish Erongo Based CoM/USC

Office

•Define Focus Areas

1.Communication/ Stakeholder

involvement( HERSS and TACs)

2.Minimum Standards

3. Cumulative Impacts -SEA

Implement Plan

1. Establish Stewardship Committee (USC)

2. Broaden Stakeholder engagement (HERSS)

3. Initiate and support the SEA

4. Finalize Occupational Health Standards

5. Built Occupational Health capacity REMS, CARE,

WISSARD6. Continuous Stakeholder

engagement7. Initiate Uranium Institute

Completion

SEA & SEMP

Uranium Institute

Atomic Energy Board

Completion

U-Project

National Regulator

Constitution supports Sustainable DevelopmentLabour Act and HSE regulations1992

Atomic Energy Act 2005Environmental Management Act 2007

MME working on uranium policy (moratorium on new EPLs) Atomic Energy Board established 2009

National Radiation Protection Authority established 2009Uranium Stewardship Committee established 2008

Uranium Institute established and U-Industry working together to protect the “Namibian brand”- UIC,UTC,UMC 2010.

Chamber of Mines implementing IAEA/WNA standards ( Good Practice)USC and MME with BGR commissioned SEA 2009Using independent SAIEA as lead agency

Strategic Environmental Management Plan 2010Chamber of Mines Mine Closure Framework 2010

Uranium Mining in Namibia: Regulated

RadiationRadiationGroundwater qualityGroundwater quality BiodiversityBiodiversity TourismTourism

Exploration or Mining Company

in Erongo Uranium province

Exploration Exploration or Mining or Mining Company Company

in in Erongo Erongo Uranium Uranium provinceprovince

Ministry of Mines and Energy

Ministry of Mines and Energy

Approved by MME and MET with conditions

Approved by MME and MET with conditions

NoNo

SEMP OfficeSEMP Office

Natural beauty Natural beauty

Mineral Rights Committee/ Minister of Mines and EnergyMineral Rights Committee/

Minister of Mines and Energy

Application for EPL, MC or

ML

Application for EPL, MC or

ML

Consultation with SEMP OfficeConsultation with SEMP Office

Monitoring

Consultation

Consideration only after consultation of SEMP office

Consideration only after consultation of SEMP office

Advice on concerns and

possible cumulative

impacts

NoNo

Re-consideration of applicationRe-consideration of application

Infrastructure developmentInfrastructure developmentTraining and educationTraining and education

HealthHealth

EmpowermentEmpowermentGovernment revenueGovernment revenue Skilled jobsSkilled jobs

Formulation of conditions for

activities

Stakeholder dialogue in

SEMP Steering

Committee

Risk Assessment

Approved by MME and MET with conditions

Approved by MME and MET with conditions

SEASEA

Approved by NRPA

Approved by NRPA

Guidance based on SEA & SEMP database (e.g.

red/yellow flag areas, water, radiation, access, etc.)

Green Uranium from Namibia

Thank you very much for your attention

Acknowledgement:Sponsor: EPA: Keith Baldry

Frank HarrisChamber of Mines of Namibia

Gottfried Poenninghaus