email from john young, page-10

Just caught this discussion- one of the last posts on this mentions water options including supply from Omaruru. This would presumably need construction of a long pipeline from the existing bulk supply network (which does not reach the coast).

Are Hot Copper posters aware that a recently-published strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the central Namib desert uranium provinces commissioned by the Namibian government from independent local consultants makes the recommendation that ALL water for new uranium mines must be supplied from desalinated plants on the coast.

The first, built by AREVA for its Trekkopje mine, has some surplus (although this will reduce once Trekkopje is in full production from 2012).

Marenica will have to be supplied for a planned second desal plant by Namwater which hopefully will be built before the company starts mine construction..Existing aquifers and local river systems cannot supply enough process water for new mines.