Environmental concerns halt uranium exploration on vital aquifer

Niël Terblanché The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform (MAWLR), Calle Schlettwein, has taken a firm stance against the continuation of exploration drilling activities by Headspring Investments, a subsidiary of Russia’s atomic agency to protect one of Namibia’s critical water resources, the Stampriet Aquifer. This decision comes amid growing concerns over the potential exposure of the aquifer to radioactive materials and the adequacy of environmental impact assessments. The controversy surfaced following inquiries by UPM President Jan van Wyk in Parliament, questioning the legality of Headspring Investments’ operations in the region. Schlettwein clarified that the company’s drilling permits, initially granted…