An Analysis of Water Management Practices in Uranium Mines in Namibia

Abstract

Namibia is a water stressed country with a limited amount of fresh water. Therefore, the use of water is an important topic in the country's development agenda. Water is a shared and finite resource, with high social, cultural, environmental and economic values. However, freshwater resources are under pressure from ore processing, industrialization, urbanization and the demands of a growing population. In Namibia, ore processing, coupled with the anticipated increase in water demand for human consumption and other uses, has created significant stress on its limited water resources. This is critical in mining industry as water remains typically the prime environmental medium (besides air) that is affected by mining activities. This study sought to investigate the strides made in water management in mining, especially in environmentally sensitive areas in Namibia. Most mining companies operate adjacent to or alongside farms, national parks and fishing areas. The overall objective of this research is to highlight the current practices in Namibia's mineral industry operating in environmentally sensitive areas, especially where uranium is being mined and processed. The methodology consists of comprehensive literature review, field visits to the case study areas, and comparative studies with best practices. This study shows that over a ten-year period, freshwater consumption has been reduced by over 55% per tonne of milled ore in uranium mines, resulting in substantive financial savings as well as a delay in water augmentation through desalination. The strategies employed by Namibian companies involve inclusive stakeholders' engagement, recycling and reuse, and the minimization of water losses. The realization that the water challenge cannot be solved by any one party acting alone has been fundamental in ensuring environmental compliance within the mining industry in Namibia. Namibia's industrial leaders have increasingly recognized that reducing the water footprint of mining activities must be one of the key performance indicators for management.