The Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Association remains adamant that the proposed mining activity on one of the aquifers that contains abundant and precious water should not continue as planned by the Uranium One group.

The association presented their scientific findings through a geologist, Dr. Roy Miller, to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Economic, and Public Administration at Leonardiville in the Aminuis Constituency.

The ban on exports of critical raw materials is seen as an opportunity for the country's two large uranium mines, Rossing and Husab, to add value.

The managers of the mines say the advancement in technology could make it possible for Namibia, but they questioned what measures the government will put in place to ensure that the requirement is met. The managers of Rossing and Husab Uranium mines were asked by member of parliament, Tjekero Tweya, if they were scared of the government's ban on exports of critical raw materials.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has asked uranium mines to be truthful in revealing how much of their budget is spent on electricity and water.

Tjekero Tweya believes the cost of the two utilities is too high in Namibia, and that is among the reasons why uranium mines are not making a bigger impact on the country's development. The mines and energy subcommittee under the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources visited various mines in the Erongo Region.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources says that the devastating increase in brown fur seals currently threatens the existence of fish stocks.

The committee raised this concern during a consultative meeting with stakeholders on the motion on the devastating increase in seal population on fish stocks in Namibia held at Walvis Bay. The Cape fur seal colony on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia is the biggest on the African coast, with a population of about 1.5 million seals eating about two million metric tonnes of fish per year.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources says the majority of resettled farmers in the Omaruru and Karibib areas are putting in extra effort to become commercial despite water problems.

The committee visited about 10 farmers resettled by the government in the Erongo Region to assess their success and challenges.

Most resettlement farms visited at Karibib and Omaruru by the parliamentarians are run by women.

Ombara Manasse Zeraua from the Zeraua Traditional Authority is among the 58 farmers resettled by the government in Erongo.

Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources have proposed the enactment of legislation that would grant Epangelo Mining Company the authority to hold a stake in all mining agreements in Namibia, similar to the role played by NAMCOR in representing the state in petroleum agreements.

Established in 2008, Epangelo Mining is a state-owned enterprise responsible for exploring and mining natural resources on behalf of the government.

Initially, the company held 40 exclusive prospecting licences (EPLs), but the number has since decreased to 10.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has called on the Ministry of Mines and Energy to decentralise its operations to better serve small-scale miners in rural areas.

At a meeting in Swakopmund, the MPs emphasised that small-scale miners bear exorbitant costs to travel to Windhoek for services.

Although there are offices of the Mines Ministry in the regions, the parliamentarians argued that such offices are located in towns.

The challenge by a Chinese lithium miner against the cancellation of its mining licence by the Minister of Mines and Energy started in the High Court this morning.

The miner, Xinfeng Investments, says that its application for the licence was detailed and included all technical requirements; therefore, the minister cannot revoke the licence.

It says the minister seemed not to have been well informed of the technical details of the application at the time of issuing the licence.