By: Hertha Ekandjo

After two years of absence, the mining and expo will return on 31 August and 1 September 2022.

The 9th Namibian Mining Expo and Conference will be the first in-person event for the mining industry after the Covid-19 Pandemic.

This was revealed by the Chambers of Mines of Namibia in a press release on Monday.

The mining expo was put on a two-year break by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chamber of Mines of Namibia’s chief executive officer (CEO) Veston Malango stated that the whole Chamber team was gearing up and preparing for the Mining Expo & Conference that will take place in the capital at the Windhoek Showgrounds.

Malango indicated that this year’s event coincides with an improving outlook for the mining industry supported by a buoyant mineral commodity market and a fast-paced operating environment that is evolving with rapid technological advancements being made in the mining sector.

“The current landscape most certainly augurs well for a valuable event that will see business ventures catalyse from these dynamic opportunities,” he said.

According to the CEO, the outlook for mining remains favourable and that they were eagerly following a sustained recovery in the price of uranium and a continued surge in mineral commodity prices as the world transitions to green energy solutions.

He further said that the mining sector was involved in exploring new frontiers such as using natural resources like gas or solar power to produce (green hydrogen) which has applications in mining operations, for instance, using hydrogen fuel cells to power haul trucks and ammonium nitrate being a product from ammonia, has a wide application as a major component for explosives (ANFO).

“The Chamber is at the forefront of the discussion around a green hydrogen industry in Namibia and linkages with other sectors of the economy and chairs one of the Private Sector Green Hydrogen Working Groups,” explained Malango.

The CEO attributed the enduring success of the mining sector to a collaborative approach between the government and the industry.

The Chamber further mentioned that the conference programme will feature speakers from various industry players who will share ways to break new frontiers in a post-pandemic era.

They will cover topics on the resurgence of Namibia’s uranium sector, the re-opening of historic mines, new frontiers of resilience, transitioning Namibia’s mining sector into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, green hydrogen and the catalyst for establishing a sustainable and environmentally responsible phosphate-based industry, among others.