TOP PROJECTS
Project manager, Mike Stuart and a team-mate from Omico Mining inspect core samples.
sourced from Windhoek and other areas in Namibia,” adds Stuart. “Of course, the country does have a strong and well-skilled mining workforce, so I have little doubt that the vast majority of our employees will be Namibian, and those who require it will be trained and skilled up as the project develops.” Stuart points out that the mine expects to retain a total workforce of around 800 -1000, which will be a win for the nation in terms of job creation, adding that the mining sector as a whole is a large contributor to employment in, and the GDP of, Namibia. “We will obviously also contribute to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles through the Craton Foundation Trust. We are currently undertaking outreach programmes with local farms and are investigating working with them on implementing camera monitoring anti-poaching systems. The Trust has, in the past, worked in conjunction with Namibian health authorities to provide services such as eye-testing at local schools and the construction of classrooms.” Looking ahead, he notes that the company’s first milestone will be to finalise its financing within the next six months, and then to begin construction in early 2026, with production starting in 2028. “Ultimately, the Omitiomire project is unique in Africa, thanks to its use of the salt leaching process, something that has not been done on the continent before. This will benefit not only Namibia as a major salt producer – with our mine using around 100 000 tonnes of salt per annum – but will also be beneficial to the local suppliers. Between these aspects, and the jobs that will be created once the mine hits its full stride, we are confident that Omitiomire will be equally beneficial to Namibia, its people and our owners, for years to come,” concludes Stuart. n
electrolysis, to deposit it as pure copper cathode.” By reducing the amount of acid consumed in the process, notes Stuart, the mine’s expenditure – both in terms of the sulphur required to make the acid, and the size of the acid plant needed - is reduced. “Leaching times are also reduced, and because it is a dynamic heat leaching system, less space is required, water consumption is also lower, and the end product has a higher purity. These important drivers of value make Omitiomire a standout copper project,” he suggests. Power and road infrastructure Talking about the supporting infrastructure, he indicates that, generally speaking, Namibia has a well-developed road network. The Omitiomire mine is around 70km from the nearest tarmac road, but the remainder of the distance is accessible via gravel. “Power access is similar in that the nearest line is about 70km away. This means it will take some time for grid power to the mine site, but we are presently working with Nampower on how best to bring power to the site. We will also be installing solar – sunlight being something else Namibia has a wealth of – that will cater for around 30% of our power requirements” he adds. This will be a 25 MW solar plant designed to run the whole operation, including crushing and SX/EW operations, he explains, but due to the lower amount of sunlight received in the morning and evening, and none at night, the solar facility will provide about 30% of the total power required. “Because the mine is situated in a remote region, there are few local communities in the area, with the nearest small town being some 50km away. This means that most of the employees will be
22 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | DECEMBER 2025 - JANUARY 2026
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