The Price of Uranium Mining – a Namib Desert Scarred By Pipelines

The water requirements of at least 12 new uranium mines by 2015 will come to about 53 million cubic metres, compared to a total water supply of 67 million cubic metres presently provided by NamWater to all its customers countrywide.

According to NamWater Chief Executive Dr Vaino Shivute, an envisaged water desalination plant at the coast was imperative and would be constructed in order to supply 25 million cubic metres from seawater by January 2010.
“There will be seven new uranium mines coming into operation by 2013 and five more in 2015 while the two existing mines, Roessing and Langer Heinrich, will expand and increase operations by 2010, requiring more water than now,” Shivute told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday.

“We must use water from existing sources like the Kuiseb aquifer and the Omdel dam near Omaruru responsibly and the N$1,48 billion desalination project will relieve the pressure on the aquifers,” Shivute added.

To finance the project, NamWater will have to borrow money, but the owners of the prospective uranium mines have pledged to pay water tariffs that would enable the water utility to repay the loan.

AllAfrica