Gecko denies legal threat
Gecko Namibia has denied reports that it is threatening to sue the environmental commissioner in a bid to secure a clearance certificate for salt mining.
Gecko Namibia says it never threatened to sue environmental commissioner Teofilus Nghitila and the environment ministry for denying them a clearance certificate to mine salt at the Otjivalunda salt pans north of Etosha.
However, Gecko Namibia is of the view that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report it submitted to the environment ministry is complete, scientifically sound and complies with the relevant legislation.
In a statement, Gecko Namibia managing director Pine van Wyk said his company never threatened legal action against the environmental commissioner or the ministry of environmental and tourism, as was earlier said by Reinhold Iita. Iita is the spokesperson of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority, which is a shareholder in Gecko Otjivalunda Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
“The statement that Gecko Namibia is threatening court action against the mining commissioner and the ministry is factually incorrect and devoid of all truth. The views expressed in the article are those of Mr Iita and not the official views of Gecko Namibia,” Van Wyk said.
Van Wyk explained that Gecko Namibia (Pty) Ltd, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Gecko Otjivalunda Holdings (Pty) Ltd, holds 50% of the ordinary issued shares of Ondonga-Uukwambi Mining Enterprises (Pty) Ltd (OUME), which is the holder of exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) 4365, which covers 20 650 hectares . The remaining 50% of the issued shares of OUME are equally held by the Ondonga Community Trust Fund and the Uukwambi Community Trust Fund.
“Gecko Namibia and OUME, assisted by Enviro Dynamics, conducted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during 2013 in relation to the proposed salt mining operations and the construction of a production plant at the Otjivalunda salt pans. The EIA was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism on 6 December 2013 for environmental clearance, which the environmental commissioner formally declined on 25 July 2014,” he said.
He added that Gecko Namibia appealed against the environmental commissioner's decision on 7 August 2014 and was still waiting for the outcome.
“Gecko Namibia is of the view that the EIA report submitted to the ministry is complete, scientifically sound and complies with the relevant legislation, both in form and substance,” he said.
According to Van Wyk, the proposed project holds enormous potential not only for the Otjivalunda community through job creation but also Namibia as a whole. The various salts found at the Otjivalunda salt pans are used in the production of soap and detergents currently being imported into Namibia. According to him, the local production of washing powder and export of purified sodium sulphide are both new industries that would be created in Namibia through this project.
The governor of Oshana, Clemens Kashuupulwa, has also appealed to the environment ministry to review its findings of the environmental impact assessment that led to them denying an environmental clearance certificate for the envisaged Otjivalunda salt mining and soap production facility. Kashuupulwa claimed that instead of consulting him, Nghitila and his team only consulted a concerned group comprised of a few traditional leaders and residents of Otjivalunda, who were against the project on the basis of cultural heritage. Otjivalunda is located within the Iipumbu Ya Tshilongo Conservancy.
The envisaged mining would take place in two salt pans situated on state land immediately to the north of the Etosha National Park. The salt pans at Otjivalunda are among the few places in the world where the rare mineral trona is naturally found.
Trona is a common source of soda ash, which is a significant economic commodity because of its applications in manufacturing glass, chemicals, paper, detergents, and textiles. It is also used to condition water and to manufacture bicarbonate of soda.
Concerned members of the public claimed that Gecko was driven by German investors who were not interested in salt mining but rather wanted to mine trona.
“The environment ministry must reject this proposal. These people are interested in the trona and once they remove it, there will be no more salt in that pan. Namibia's cultural and natural heritage, including its biological diversity, must be protected and respected for the benefit of future generations,” said one source.
Another said that a trona resource takes up to 20 years to mature once it is harvested. It is reported that more than 400 exploration holes have been drilled on the 700 hectares. Currently there is no infrastructure at the pans. Gecko's proposed processing plant will be located at Embandu settlement, which is 10km west of Oshakati and 120km by road from the pans.
Nghitila refused to issue the environmental clearance certificate, saying the salt-mining operation was an ecological risk.
“Gecko Namibia and OUME will continue to work constructively with the ministry of mines and energy to obtain approval for the development of this significant project to the benefit of Namibia and its people,” Van Wyk said.
ILENI NANDJATO
However, Gecko Namibia is of the view that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report it submitted to the environment ministry is complete, scientifically sound and complies with the relevant legislation.
In a statement, Gecko Namibia managing director Pine van Wyk said his company never threatened legal action against the environmental commissioner or the ministry of environmental and tourism, as was earlier said by Reinhold Iita. Iita is the spokesperson of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority, which is a shareholder in Gecko Otjivalunda Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
“The statement that Gecko Namibia is threatening court action against the mining commissioner and the ministry is factually incorrect and devoid of all truth. The views expressed in the article are those of Mr Iita and not the official views of Gecko Namibia,” Van Wyk said.
Van Wyk explained that Gecko Namibia (Pty) Ltd, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Gecko Otjivalunda Holdings (Pty) Ltd, holds 50% of the ordinary issued shares of Ondonga-Uukwambi Mining Enterprises (Pty) Ltd (OUME), which is the holder of exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) 4365, which covers 20 650 hectares . The remaining 50% of the issued shares of OUME are equally held by the Ondonga Community Trust Fund and the Uukwambi Community Trust Fund.
“Gecko Namibia and OUME, assisted by Enviro Dynamics, conducted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during 2013 in relation to the proposed salt mining operations and the construction of a production plant at the Otjivalunda salt pans. The EIA was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism on 6 December 2013 for environmental clearance, which the environmental commissioner formally declined on 25 July 2014,” he said.
He added that Gecko Namibia appealed against the environmental commissioner's decision on 7 August 2014 and was still waiting for the outcome.
“Gecko Namibia is of the view that the EIA report submitted to the ministry is complete, scientifically sound and complies with the relevant legislation, both in form and substance,” he said.
According to Van Wyk, the proposed project holds enormous potential not only for the Otjivalunda community through job creation but also Namibia as a whole. The various salts found at the Otjivalunda salt pans are used in the production of soap and detergents currently being imported into Namibia. According to him, the local production of washing powder and export of purified sodium sulphide are both new industries that would be created in Namibia through this project.
The governor of Oshana, Clemens Kashuupulwa, has also appealed to the environment ministry to review its findings of the environmental impact assessment that led to them denying an environmental clearance certificate for the envisaged Otjivalunda salt mining and soap production facility. Kashuupulwa claimed that instead of consulting him, Nghitila and his team only consulted a concerned group comprised of a few traditional leaders and residents of Otjivalunda, who were against the project on the basis of cultural heritage. Otjivalunda is located within the Iipumbu Ya Tshilongo Conservancy.
The envisaged mining would take place in two salt pans situated on state land immediately to the north of the Etosha National Park. The salt pans at Otjivalunda are among the few places in the world where the rare mineral trona is naturally found.
Trona is a common source of soda ash, which is a significant economic commodity because of its applications in manufacturing glass, chemicals, paper, detergents, and textiles. It is also used to condition water and to manufacture bicarbonate of soda.
Concerned members of the public claimed that Gecko was driven by German investors who were not interested in salt mining but rather wanted to mine trona.
“The environment ministry must reject this proposal. These people are interested in the trona and once they remove it, there will be no more salt in that pan. Namibia's cultural and natural heritage, including its biological diversity, must be protected and respected for the benefit of future generations,” said one source.
Another said that a trona resource takes up to 20 years to mature once it is harvested. It is reported that more than 400 exploration holes have been drilled on the 700 hectares. Currently there is no infrastructure at the pans. Gecko's proposed processing plant will be located at Embandu settlement, which is 10km west of Oshakati and 120km by road from the pans.
Nghitila refused to issue the environmental clearance certificate, saying the salt-mining operation was an ecological risk.
“Gecko Namibia and OUME will continue to work constructively with the ministry of mines and energy to obtain approval for the development of this significant project to the benefit of Namibia and its people,” Van Wyk said.
ILENI NANDJATO
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article