The government has requested advice and technical assistance from the United Nations Educational,
Agriculture, water and land reform minister
"The far greater risk, that of in-situ mining and consequential discharge of tailings back into the aquifer and resultant solution of the aquifer, is a matter that needs very careful consideration.
"We have requested expert advice and technical assistance from Unesco and the
"In line with our commitment to continuous improvement and adherence to best practices, we warmly welcome constructive dialogue with competent independent bodies such as the
He said the company is open to dialogue and continues consultations with all interested parties to clarify any issues related to the project to achieve mutual understanding.
"Headspring Investments, which is owned by the
"The company strives for transparency in its activities and complies with the highest global standards in the field of environmental safety and security," he said.
Schlettwein, in a previous interview with The Namibian, said the company has drilled about 600 exploration boreholes and 36 hydrogeological or monitoring boreholes on 39 farms since 2012.
He said the conditions of proper sealing and grouting were ignored.
"The company is required to regularly provide verified data and information to the relevant ministries. We are confident that the company will be given a fair opportunity to conduct a field trial, the results of which will confirm the safety of the extraction method, especially in relation to underground water sources that are vital to local communities," he said.
The project has been criticised by the
The uranium recovery in-situ mining method involves drilling a series of boreholes into an ore body and using acids or bases to dissolve mineral deposits.
The project, which has so far attracted N$900 million in investments, has also been stalled by resistance from both environmentalists and surrounding communities over safety concerns surrounding in-situ mining for the water aquifer in the area.
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