CHAMWE KAIRA
Bannerman Energy has spent more than N$428.2 million on local procurement, construction contracts and service providers as development of its Etango uranium project in the Erongo region advances towards a planned construction milestone later this year.
According to project information released in the 2026 Sustainability Report titled ‘People, Planet, Performance’ bulk earthworks are approximately 99% complete, while the first two concrete construction packages are about 86% complete.
The company said the bulk earthworks, which include the heap leach pads and wet plant terraces, are expected to be completed by December 2026.
Construction is also progressing on structural facilities for the primary crusher and fine ore silo.
Bannerman said more than 560 personnel are working at the site through four Namibian contracting companies. The workforce has accumulated more than 1.1 million hours without a lost-time injury, according to the company.
The N$428.2 million spent locally covers civil works, engineering, aggregate crushing and electrical infrastructure, among other project-related activities.
The project will rely on desalinated seawater supplied by NamWater for its operational water requirements, with the company saying the arrangement is intended to avoid competition with local municipal water supplies.
Construction of the permanent water pipeline began in 2026 and is reported to be 90% complete. A temporary pipeline has been completed to supply the project’s initial water requirements.
The site also has a concrete storage reservoir with capacity equivalent to 10 days of operational water demand.
The water infrastructure forms part of the preparations for the project’s eventual operations, although the supplied project update does not provide a revised date for the start of production.
Bannerman has also renewed its partnership with Mondesa Youth Opportunities (MYO) for a further three years.
The programme supports learners from under-resourced backgrounds in the Swakopmund area through educational support, leadership development, life skills training and daily meals.
The Etango project’s definitive feasibility study provides for an initial mine life of 15 years and annual production of 3.5 million pounds of uranium oxide.
The project is one of Namibia’s proposed uranium developments as the country continues to attract investment in its uranium sector.
