First sod turned for Husab

Construction of the new uranium mine at the Rössing South deposit started officially last week with a groundbreaking ceremony. Now the property of Swakop Uranium, the project is known as the Husab Project. At completion, the investment will have topped N$20 billion.
Since the signing of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) contract for the Husab Project in Beijing in November 2012, Swakop Uranium has been working full pace with construction and development of the mine.
In his address, Swakop Uranium CEO Mr Zheng Keping said the Husab Project is the most important uranium discovery of recent years. He added that Swakop Uranium was well positioned to develop and construct the third-largest uranium mine in the world with the potential to produce 15 million pounds (6800 tonnes) uranium oxide per annum, more than the total current uranium production of Namibia. “This will elevate Namibia past Niger, Australia and Canada to the second rung on the world ladder of uranium producers. The 8 km uranium mineralisation has been confirmed as the highest-grade, granite-hosted uranium deposit in Namibia and one of the world’s most significant discoveries in decades,” Zheng said.
Minister of Mines and Energy Hon. Isak Katali said “We will continue to modernise our key policies and incentives regimes in the mining and other sectors of the economy as means to promote regional and international competitiveness of the Namibian economy. With increasing competition regionally and internationally, it is imperative that we work harder to make Namibia a more attractive destination for investors. This is a vital component of our strategies to empower our people economically and combat poverty and unemployment in our country.”
Minister Katali pointed out that mineral resources have consistently accounted for over 10% of the country’s GDP and over 40%of Namibia’s export earnings. He said the Husab mine will create 2000 permanent jobs and up to 6000 temporary jobs during the construction phase. “In addition, more than 8000 indirect jobs are projected to be created in related service industries. Perhaps more significantly, is the projection that this project will make Namibia the second largest uranium producer in the world.”
Mr Zheng Dongshan, senior vice-president of CGNPC, said as a large international clean energy group, CGNPC has always pursued active development of international cooperation and engagement, and stands ready to cooperate with worthy global partners on the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefits and team work. “The Husab Project marks a new starting point to take forward our partnership in the months and years to come. To this end, we will work closely with our partners in a spirit of solidarity and collaboration, to ensure the safe and quality construction and operation of Husab Project. We will also strive to turn Swakop Uranium into a world-class uranium producer and contribute to the socio-economic development of our respective countries.”