Allexer Namundjembo
A delegation of Namibian farmers, a journalist and employees from Headspring Investments, a subsidiary of Russia’s Rosatom mining group, recently visited the Dalur in-situ uranium mine in Russia to learn more about its operations and extraction methods.
The delegation visited the Dalur mine in Yekaterinburg, where the director general of Dalur JSC, Dinis Ezhurov, explained the in-situ leaching method used to extract uranium.
The method dissolves uranium underground and pumps the solution to the surface, removing the need for open-pit mining or underground tunnelling.
“There is no ore mass subsidence or damage, and therefore no rock dumps or tailings ponds. There is also no ore crushing, sizing or separation, which eliminates dust,” Ezhurov said.
He said the natural radioactivity of the ore body remains underground during the process, reducing direct contact between workers and radioactive material.
“The International Atomic Energy Agency has recorded no cases of radiation sickness among personnel over 50 years of applying the ISL method,” he said.
Ezhurov said the company removes fertile soil before drilling and safely disposes of used fluids to prevent groundwater contamination.
“We prioritise radioecological monitoring of industrial sites and surrounding areas, as well as laboratory testing of drinking water and environmental control of emissions,” he said.
During the visit, the delegation toured the mining site and observed that there were no visible rock dumps, tailings ponds or large-scale excavation activities.
The in-situ leaching method is currently used by 28 companies worldwide, including operations in Kazakhstan, the United States, Uzbekistan, Russia and Austria.
Headspring Investments, a Namibian subsidiary of Rosatom, is waiting for government permits to begin pilot tests in Namibia. Exploration activities were halted in 2022.
Omaheke farmer Dylan Mukoroli said the visit changed some of his views about uranium mining.
“My biggest concern was water contamination, which was addressed. There are mechanisms in place to prevent and contain any potential spread of sulphuric acid or the extracted solution,” he said.
Mukoroli said he now believes the mining method could work in Namibia if proper safety measures are followed.
“We have seen how technology is improving mining operations. This is something that was not clearly explained before, but it has now been clarified,” he said.
Earlier this year, the parliamentary standing committee on natural resources supported uranium exploration activities by Rosatom in Leonardville, saying the project could bring economic benefits to Namibia.
The committee said an estimated 50 000 metric tonnes of uranium valued at about US$18 billion has been identified in the area.
Headspring Investments has been carrying out exploration work in the Omaheke Region since 2011 under several exclusive prospecting licences.
The committee said the proposed use of in-situ recovery technology could allow uranium extraction with limited surface disruption. The method currently accounts for nearly half of global uranium production.
The project has, however, faced opposition from environmental groups and some local farmers who fear possible groundwater contamination in the water-scarce Omaheke Region.
Former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein previously warned against uranium extraction in the area.
Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate has supported the project, saying it could help reduce poverty in the region if managed safely.
Rosatom said it is prepared to invest more than US$5 billion into the project. The company projects that the development could create more than 20 000 direct and indirect jobs and support the growth of a uranium value chain in Namibia.
