The Working Groups of the ESG Committee

Services Working Group

The Services Working Group was established to address power and water supply issues, as well as infrastructure developments and maintenance, and waste management. Intermediate and long-term power supply security, the sourcing of sufficient quantities of bulk water at viable and cost-effective tariffs, waste management and transport infrastructure are the key issues this Working Group is dealing with. In 2023 the Working Group discussed the planned Namwaste hazardous waste facility, including radioactive waste storage, road safety in the Erongo Region and potential disaster response, water security and the planned Namwater desalination plant, and renewable energy resources used at member companies.

Radiation Safety Working Group

Radiation safety in the Namibian uranium mining industry is addressed by skilled professionals who competently manage radiation safety in the workplace and in the environment in which uranium mining and exploration takes place. Effective radiation safety guarantees optimal protection of people and the environment against ionising radiation. NUA’s structured uranium product stewardship program ensures that public fears about radiation are addressed factually and objectively. The Radiation Safety Working Group deals with building and maintaining capacity in radiation safety in Namibia, and has members from exploration companies and the uranium mines in Namibia. The Working Group identifies issues relating to radiation protection that may potentially pose a risk to the industry; develops and promotes best practice guidelines for radiation protection in the uranium mining industry; suggests initiatives to promote awareness about radiation protection; and evaluates the potential cumulative impacts of radiation exposure in an area with multiple projects. During the course of 2023 the Working Group addressed the Trace Element Analysis (TEA) Laboratory, standardization of Similar Exposure Group (SEG) monitoring, and the calibration of radiation monitoring equipment.

An Emergency Spill Drill was once again organised by the working group through Rössing Uranium and Namport towards the end of the year. The scenario was as follows: A reach stacker was hoisting a container filled with drums of uranium oxide for shipping. The container dislodged, resulting in it falling from a height of 6 m to the ground. The container door broke open on impact, and one drum opened and spilled, resulting in the release of uranium oxide in the area. The objectives of the drill were to demonstrate the emergency response capabilities and the level of efficiency of the relevant emergency procedures of Rössing Uranium and Namport. While Rössing Uranium and Namport responded to the emergency, other NUA members and stakeholders from Namport served as observers. Particular emphasis was given to the actions of the Port Emergency Unit, and the actions of the Rössing support and recovery services. Conducting a uranium spill drill at the harbour has proven to be a commendable initiative, providing valuable insights for potential improvements and a learning opportunity for all involved.

Water and Air Quality Working Group

The Water and Air Quality Working Group assists NUA members in promoting and sharing leading practices and transferring knowledge about groundwater and air quality management. It advises NUA from an industry-wide perspective, and provides an opportunity to discuss and examine water and air quality related risks. The Working Group addresses the monitoring and avoidance of negative impacts on groundwater and air quality, and advises on the co-ordination and prioritization of water and air quality risk management issues. It also encourages and fosters greater awareness of groundwater and air quality at all levels in the uranium industry, which calls for the understanding of pressing issues, if any, and their effects, in particular those that might be of a cumulative nature in an area with multiple projects.

Swakop River Farmer’s Working Group

The Swakop River Farmer’s Working Group is a special interest group that deals with NUI’s stakeholders farming in the Swakop River valley downstream of the mining operations. Farming in the immediate vicinity of mining operations can potentially lead to conflicting situations, such as competition for water, or concerns about the water quality. Indeed, the Swakop River farmers utilise a source of groundwater for some of their irrigation schemes, which is also utilised to a certain, albeit small extend by the uranium mines, and a coordinated approach is therefore required. The Working Group provides an opportunity to share information about projects and mining operations with the farmers, as well as to avail them an opportunity to raise any concerns they might have. With the increased activities in the Namibian uranium sector, including the re-opening of the Langer Heinrich Mine, and the development of at least two more mines, the Working Group has gained importance in 2024. The research cooperation with NUST to develop chemical amendment strategies for the reclamation of saline-sodic soil properties in the Swakop River Valley also continues.