Alweendo blames ministry officials for excessive lithium exports
Mines minister Tom Alweendo says officials from his ministry failed to stipulate how much lithium ore Chinese company Xinfeng Investments Namibia could export, and in the process gave it carte blanche to do what it wished.
He made the comments in Parliament this week, saying the company has been given a pass to export as much as 135 000 tonnes of lithium ore from its mining site near Omaruru.
“The ministry officials responsible for the administration of export permits neglected to agree with the company as to the total quantity of ore that was needed to be exported for testing purposes,” Alweendo said.
Royalties and bribes
Xinfeng has been allowed to export 75 000 tonnes of ore so far, a figure the minister said was too high.
“It must be noted that the company has paid royalties of N$2 million for the 75 000 tonnes so far exported. It goes without saying that 135 000 tonnes is an unreasonably high quantity for testing purposes. The only fair conclusion is that the company decided to export crushed ore not only for testing purposes, but also to make an income for its operations,” he said.
Xinfeng, Alweendo told lawmakers, had also acquired its exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) inappropriately, paying N$50 million for it.
This alleged bribe has since led to the resignation of former technical advisor in Alweendo’s office, Ralph Muyamba.
“It is important to note, however, that the mining licence from which the crushed ore in question is being exported is not the same as the one surrounded by bribery allegations. These are two separate licences owned by the same company,” Alweendo said.
Exploration not genuine
According to the minister, some companies are not genuinely interested in exploration, but rather in trading activities.
“For some applicants, the main reason why they apply for exploration licences is not so much to do exploration but rather to trade with the licences once rewarded,” he said.
In a statement earlier this month, the ministry said it approved the export of lithium ore to China, but that this will cease at the end of the month.
“This is a once-off arrangement and the 'no export ban' on the company will apply effective 30 November until the company's revised mining programme is evaluated and approved."
The export of ore to China is necessitated to evaluate the potential of establishing a lithium processing plant in Namibia, it said at the time.
He made the comments in Parliament this week, saying the company has been given a pass to export as much as 135 000 tonnes of lithium ore from its mining site near Omaruru.
“The ministry officials responsible for the administration of export permits neglected to agree with the company as to the total quantity of ore that was needed to be exported for testing purposes,” Alweendo said.
Royalties and bribes
Xinfeng has been allowed to export 75 000 tonnes of ore so far, a figure the minister said was too high.
“It must be noted that the company has paid royalties of N$2 million for the 75 000 tonnes so far exported. It goes without saying that 135 000 tonnes is an unreasonably high quantity for testing purposes. The only fair conclusion is that the company decided to export crushed ore not only for testing purposes, but also to make an income for its operations,” he said.
Xinfeng, Alweendo told lawmakers, had also acquired its exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) inappropriately, paying N$50 million for it.
This alleged bribe has since led to the resignation of former technical advisor in Alweendo’s office, Ralph Muyamba.
“It is important to note, however, that the mining licence from which the crushed ore in question is being exported is not the same as the one surrounded by bribery allegations. These are two separate licences owned by the same company,” Alweendo said.
Exploration not genuine
According to the minister, some companies are not genuinely interested in exploration, but rather in trading activities.
“For some applicants, the main reason why they apply for exploration licences is not so much to do exploration but rather to trade with the licences once rewarded,” he said.
In a statement earlier this month, the ministry said it approved the export of lithium ore to China, but that this will cease at the end of the month.
“This is a once-off arrangement and the 'no export ban' on the company will apply effective 30 November until the company's revised mining programme is evaluated and approved."
The export of ore to China is necessitated to evaluate the potential of establishing a lithium processing plant in Namibia, it said at the time.
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