Namibia: Kunene Small-Scale Miners Detail EPL Concerns to Committee

• Small-scale miners in Namibia's Kunene region raised concerns about Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs), financing, training, and mineral prices with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources.
• Miners highlighted high costs for Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECCs) and a lack of information on formal processes and mineral values like copper.
• They also reported feeling excluded from mining due to EPL issues and lacking resources to challenge legal disputes.
• Miners called for education, safety training, and community ownership in mining agreements to ensure broader benefits.
• The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy committed to addressing education requests and urged miners to report EPLs issued without traditional leaders' approval for investigation.

The call for reporting EPLs issued without traditional leaders' approval signals a potential compliance exposure related to land rights and community consultation, an area of increasing scrutiny for mining operations.

Small-scale miners operating in Namibia's Kunene region recently voiced a range of significant challenges to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources. The committee, currently undertaking an oversight visit to small-scale mining operations across both the Kunene and Erongo regions, heard firsthand accounts of difficulties surrounding Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs), limited access to crucial information, inadequate training, and insufficient financing. Concerns were also raised regarding the opaque nature of mineral pricing.

Monicca Tjizembisa, a representative of the local mining community, underscored the vital role small-scale mining plays as a primary income source for many residents in Kunene, particularly within its rural areas. Despite this economic importance, Tjizembisa highlighted that these local miners are severely constrained by a lack of financial resources, essential equipment, technical knowledge, and access to information about formal mining and environmental regulatory processes. This operational environment contributes to significant Namibia small-scale mining challenges.

A central point of contention revolves around the differing interpretations of rights between EPL holders and local miners. Tjizembisa noted that small-scale miners often feel marginalized from the sector due to these persistent EPL issues, further exacerbated by their inability to fund legal challenges when disputes arise. This creates a challenging landscape for small-scale mining legal disputes Namibia.

Beyond the complexities of Exclusive Prospecting Licences Namibia, the financial burden of regulatory compliance emerged as a critical concern. Ueihanavi Tjihange specifically pointed to the substantial costs associated with obtaining Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECCs). Tjihange explained that applicants are often required to pay considerable sums to individuals tasked with conducting the necessary environmental assessments, contributing to the high Environmental Clearance Certificates cost Namibia.

Further compounding the Kunene mining regulatory issues, Tjihange also called for greater transparency and education regarding mineral prices. Miners frequently lack knowledge about the true market value of minerals they extract, such as copper. This information asymmetry leaves them vulnerable, prompting a plea to the relevant ministry to provide reliable pricing data to ensure fair compensation for their efforts.

Alphons Uarije advocated for comprehensive education and safety training programs tailored for small-scale miners. Additionally, Uarije proposed the implementation of mining agreements designed to deliver broader benefits to entire communities, advocating for models that include community ownership and shares in mining operations. These suggestions aim to foster more equitable and sustainable development within the sector.

Tobie Aupindi, chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources Namibia, acknowledged the gravity of the issues raised, confirming that the committee had identified serious concerns within the mining sector. He assured the miners that their feedback would be thoroughly documented and incorporated into the committee's forthcoming report. Abraham Iilende, Deputy Director of Mineral Rights in the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, affirmed the ministry's commitment to considering the issues presented. Iilende specifically noted the request for education on small-scale mining had been recorded and would be addressed. Crucially, Iilende urged miners to report any EPLs issued without the requisite approval from traditional leaders, enabling the ministry to initiate investigations into such potential irregularities.

The detailed concerns from Kunene small-scale miners EPL concerns, coupled with the Parliamentary Standing Committee's direct engagement, highlight critical areas requiring attention within Namibia's extractive industries. The issues raised — from the high Environmental Clearance Certificates cost Namibia to the lack of transparent mineral pricing and the challenges of Exclusive Prospecting Licences Namibia — collectively point to systemic vulnerabilities that impact local livelihoods and the broader regulatory framework. The call for reporting EPLs issued without traditional leaders' approval signals a potential compliance exposure related to land rights and community consultation, an area of increasing scrutiny for mining operations.

The committee's commitment to documenting these issues and the ministry's pledge to address them suggest a potential for future regulatory adjustments or increased oversight. Lawyers advising mining companies in Namibia, particularly those with interests in the Kunene region, should closely monitor the committee's report and any subsequent government actions. These developments could signal shifts in operational compliance requirements, community engagement expectations, and the landscape for small-scale mining legal disputes Namibia, underscoring the ongoing Namibia small-scale mining challenges.

Lawyers advising mining companies in Namibia, especially those with interests in the Kunene region, should closely monitor the Parliamentary Committee's report and any subsequent government actions. The highlighted issues regarding EPLs, ECC costs, and community engagement signal potential areas of regulatory reform, increased scrutiny, or legal disputes that could impact operational compliance and social license. Compliance officers should note the call for reporting EPLs issued without traditional leaders' approval, indicating a potential compliance exposure related to land rights and community consultation.

Source: Original reporting via New Era