Mining Companies Speak Out on Propose Minerals Policy: Written by David Adetona Friday, 06 May 2011 09:17
Extract Resources, Kalahari Minerals, Weatherly International and Paladin Energy this week expressed the belief that their operations will not be affected by a recent announcement by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Isak Katali, that Epangelo, a state-owned mining company will now hold exclusive exploration and mining rights on uranium, copper, gold, zinc, and coal. In response to the government?s proposed new minerals policy, Weatherly International said in a statement this week, that the minister has advised the Chamber of Mines of Namibia late last month that any new policy will not apply to current licenses and will therefore not affect existing exclusive prospecting licences (EPLs), mining licences and mineral deposit retention licences. The parent company of Weatherly Mining Namibia, said that its current operations and existing licenses will therefore remain unaffected by any new policy. In the same vein, John Borshoff, CEO of Paladin Energy stated that: ?following discussions with the government of Namibia, it is our understanding that the equity position and operations of Langer Heinrich will remain unaffected.? Extract Resources, developer of the Husab project which contains one of the largest uranium deposits in the world, said the company is confident that the proposed policy changes will not adversely affect its EPL or its mining licence application, lodged on 10 December last year. According to the mining company, it continues to have regular and positive consultations with the government in relation to its Husab uranium project and points out that EPL 3138, which applies to the area within which the Husab Uranium Project Mining Licence Application is situated, was recently renewed for a further two-year period to 30 April 2013. The UK-based, Kalahari Minerals, the parent company of Kalahari Uranium Limited, which owns a 40% stake in Extract Resources? Husab, said it remains confident that its relations with the government and its investment will continue to produce successful results, despite the proposed new minerals policy that could see all mining and mineral exploration licences issued to the Epangelo mining company. ?I remain confident that our strong relationship with the government and our investment in Namibia will continue to bear fruit for both Kalahari and Extract, as we work together to ensure all parties benefit from the development of Husab,? said Mark Hohnen, the executive chairperson of Kalahari Minerals. He noted that Extract Resources, together with the board of Kalahari Minerals, has maintained a strong relationship with the government through an active and open dialogue with the appropriate ministers and officials throughout the five years of operations in the country. According to Hohnen, the boards of Kalahari Minerals and Extract Resources, understand the importance of the development of Husab for the benefit of all stakeholders, and in turn, the government has maintained its support of this process, demonstrated most recently by the extension of EPL 3138, which covers the Husab project area, for a further two-year period to 30 April 2013. Meanwhile, the the general manager of the Chamber of Mines, Veston Malango, also confirmed in a recent media statement that the new policy will not affect mining licenses already issued.
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