The Chinese-owned Swakop Uranium Mine near Arandis has proposed a joint venture with the government to build a second seawater desalination plant at the coast.
The mine appealed to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila for the government to accelerate its plan.
Over the past 10 years, the mining industry in the Erongo Region has been complaining about operation disruptions due to a shortage of water in the region.
"Year on year, which is a regular occurrence, what tends to happen is that these already stretched water resources are then challenged by natural calamities such as the sulfur blooms that happen in the ocean. We then find ourselves having to make decisions, sort of, around people and industries to the point where industry then has to decide to shut down businesses," said Irvinne Simataa, Executive Vice President of Husab Uranium.
At the Chinese-owned Husab Uranium Mine near Arandis, 39 days of productive time were lost in 2022 because of the unavailability of water.
"And what I must highlight honorable minister, is that of those 39 days, the majority of them—close to 20 days—were in the month of December. We literally did not have any production in the month of December purely because of the unavailability of water."
Swakop Uranium says the mine currently accounts for 65 to 70% of the water demand in the region, and that is a motivation to partner with the government.
"Given the impact we have on business, we have gone to the extent of presenting an unsolicited offer wherein we are saying that to get the wheels rolling, we are willing to make such an investment with a view to build, operate, and transfer to the rightful owners. The idea is that we would want it fast-tracked to mitigate our business risk. However, we do not have the intention to operate the desalination plant. We are in the business of mining, and we intend to mitigate our risk."
Simataa stressed that the business is unable to make a profit because of the shortage of water.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila stressed that it was the government's responsibility to create a conducive environment for investors.
"When I return to Windhoek, I will get in touch with the colleagues to find out where things are so you can get the feedback in regard to what is being expected, whether we would be embracing the beauty or whether there is another approach that is being pursued, that is probably not the most important. What's important is the security of the water supply, not only for yourself but for others that need it."
Husab Uranium says if there was a stable water supply, Swakop Uranium would be raking in profits and even employing an additional 2,000 employees through their three projects planned for the future.
The appeal was made when Husab Uranium donated N$200,000 to the Office of the Prime Minister towards the National Emergency Disaster Fund at Swakopmund.