Russian mining giant Uranium One Group has broken its silence on allegations raised by pressure groups through various platforms.
Last year, the group invited all stakeholders on a familiarization visit to Russia and Kazakhstan to observe the in-situ leaching mining technique, but according to the mine's public relations department, some groups rejected the invite.
Headsprings Investment, a subsidiary of the Uranium One Group, has been exploring in the Omaheke Region.
The region is rich in uranium, and the mine is undertaking various studies on how to best extract the mineral.
The group has, however, received backlash regarding the proposed method, which is the in-situ leaching mining technique.
Concerned groups have raised fears of possible contamination of underground water, the coexistence of the mine and animal life, including plant life, and the safety of humans.
Namibian spokesperson of the mining group, Riaan Van Rooyen, says the exploration is still ongoing and that it is imperative that this process be completed to give a detailed set of data.
Van Rooyen has rubbished allegations by concerned groups that in-situ leaching technology has contaminated water in some parts of the world.
"We hear that there are facts that water has been contaminated in other places, we do not know of such places, and if we can get information about them, we will be very grateful. When we talk about in-situ recovery mining in Kazakhstan, which was then also put on the table as being undrinkable, there are areas where the water has a very high saline content, but there are also areas where there is very good drinking water, and there are mines there where the drinking water for staff and the mine are in the same aquifer."
Over 62% of the world's uranium is mined through this method.
Van Rooyen is adamant that no contamination of any sort is on record and that the water used in mines, which uses in-situ leaching, has passed the standards set by the World Health Organization.
"The USA, again, so-called facts are put forward that in the USA, in freshwater, it is only soda water that is allowed to be used in ISL and that sulfuric acid is not allowed, and that is also not true, because Strada Mine got their license last year to use sulfuric acid in fresh water, and the reason why they got it is that it has been proven that everything can be contained."
At a presentation for the media, geologist Aldo Hengari revealed that the underground water found in the Stampriet Acquifer moves at a speed of three meters per year, and in the unlikely event that any form of contamination takes place, the mine will have more than enough time to take action before it reaches the nearest town, which is Leonardville, situated about 15 kilometers from the exploration site.
The Omaheke Governor, Pijoo Nganate, was among the regional leaders invited to Russia and Khazakstan to visit various mines using the in-situ leaching style.
Nganate has shown public support for the envisioned mine, saying it will help curb the high unemployment rate and fast-track development in the region.