By: Justicia Shipena

 

B2Gold, a Canadian owned company, says it foresees difficulties making profit if it were to establish a gold refinery in Namibia in line with the country’s value addition aspirations.

B2Gold’s country manager, John Roos, said: “To put up a refinery in Namibia is absolutely too costly, and there is no payback on that project because we are a small group, and we are the only two gold mines in Namibia.”

In June 2023, Namibia implemented a ban on the export of unprocessed critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, and rare earth minerals.

This decision aligns with the growing global interest in Namibia’s rare-earth metals, driven by a shift towards renewable energy and a move away from environmentally impactful fuels.

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