Friday, September 2, 2016 - 09:30
Following the discovery of the uranium ore body in 1928 in the Namib Desert close to where the town of Arandis is situated today, Rössing Uranium became Namibia’s first commercial uranium mine in 1976.
Rössing Uranium managing director, Werner Duvenhage, introduced the history of the mine to the Namibian President, Dr Hage Geingob who was invited to witness the mine's 40th anniversary celebration, and to open a new viewing point into the open cast mining pit named after him.
Earlier this year Duvenhage announced that the mine will launch an independent research programme with current and former employees of the mine that will determine if radiation, from mining activities, has any significant effect on people and the environment. The study will be reviewed by peers of the researchers at various leading international universities across the world.
Speaking on the current state of the mine, Duvenhage said it was in a race against time to secure the right to develop phase four of its life-of-mine extension programme, and needed to reduce its unit costs significantly.
“The uranium industry is going through tough times but the long-term prospects of the industry remain positive. Rössing Uranium Mine invested substantial resources during the past few years to gain access to higher grade ore and reduced its uranium oxide production during 2015 in line with a decision taken in 2014 to downscale production and supplying mainly its long-term contract customers. The mine was also affected in the first quarter of 2015 by a fire which broke out at the Final Product Recovery Plant,” he said.
He said in terms of production, Rössing produced 1 245 tons of uranium oxide in 2015 compared to 1 543 tons in 2014.
Dr Hage Geingob witnessed how employees of the company receive long service certificates. Some of the employees have been working for the mine for its entire existence.
Duvenhage also introduced the new generation of employees to the president, all of whom received bursaries from the mine and completed their studies in various fields that has relation to the operations of the mine.
Dr Geingob said with reference to the Harambee Prosperity Plan and other future equity projects: “Let us take care of each other, let us not just allow our employees to go on retirement without anything to survive on. We do not eat uranium, but others can use it for their specific needs. What we can do is partner with such investors and ensure that we create a conducive environment for them to invest in and so plough back into our economy to the benefit of our people.”