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Swakop Uranium and NamWater have launched a joint venture to build Namibia’s second desalination plant near Swakopmund, aiming to support the Husab uranium mine and surrounding communities in the Erongo region. The 20 million cubic-meter facility, in planning since 1998, will provide a stable and cost-efficient water supply for industrial and community use. Swakop Uranium owns 70% of the project, with NamWater holding 30%. Estimated at around 3 billion Namibian dollars (USD 176 million), the plant reflects Namibia’s focus on water security and international collaboration in strategic sectors.
Swakop Uranium, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Group, has partnered with Namibia’s state water utility, NamWater, to develop the country’s second desalination plant near Swakopmund. The new facility will strengthen water supply for the Husab uranium mine and provide support to communities in Namibia’s Erongo region along the Atlantic coast. Advertisement
Under the joint venture, Swakop Uranium will hold a 70% stake, while NamWater will hold the remaining 30%. Project officials confirmed that the next steps include registering the Erongo Sunam Desalination Project Joint Venture Company, completing detailed engineering plans, carrying out environmental assessments, arranging financing, and preparing for construction.
The desalination plant is expected to produce 20 million cubic meters of water per year. Planning for the project began back in 1998, reflecting a long-term strategy to address water scarcity in one of Africa’s driest regions. Once operational, it will ensure a reliable and cost-effective water supply for the Husab mine, neighboring mining operations, and local communities. Husab is currently the largest open-pit uranium mine in the world and the biggest water consumer in the Erongo region, second only to the City of Windhoek in Namibia.
NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata did not disclose the project’s exact cost, though local media estimate it to be around 3 billion Namibian dollars (roughly USD 176 million).
The project highlights Namibia’s growing focus on water security and sustainable infrastructure. It also shows continued Chinese investment in Namibia’s strategic mining and industrial sectors, combining international expertise with local development priorities.
Source Reuters
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