11/08/2026
Shifeta backs phosphate clearance
By: Envaalde Matheus
Former environment minister Pohamba Shifeta says the environmental commissioner acted within his powers in granting a new environmental clearance for the Sandpiper marine phosphate project.
Shifeta says the phosphate clearance was initially withdrawn in 2013 over a lack of scientific evidence on its environmental impact, after which a study was conducted.
A moratorium on marine phosphate mining was imposed in 2013, amid concerns over the potential environmental consequences of extracting phosphate from the seabed.
Shifeta says he is, however, unable to confirm whether the moratorium was ever formally lifted.
Shifeta, who dealt with the phosphate project during his tenure as environment minister, says the Environmental Commissioner has the authority to grant an Environmental Clearance Certificate.
“The Commissioner has the powers to grant a certificate. Any aggrieved party can appeal. In fact, what happened, the certificate was granted and then there was an appeal," he said.
Shifeta said when he had to adjudicate the appeal against the earlier clearance, he was not convinced there was sufficient scientific information.
“We had to do precautionary measures and they just put it aside in order for us to make sure that we first have information that we need to do studies and the study was conducted and I'm told the study was conducted and I think what happened is that the Commissioner has decided based on the study that came out, the scientific information that was given,” he said.
The latest Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, conducted by Environmental Compliance Consultancy on behalf of Namibian Marine Phosphate, looked at the effects of dredging phosphate from the seabed.
The assessment identifies potential impacts on the seabed, marine life and fishing, but generally rates these impacts as low, with effects expected to be largely localised and manageable through monitoring and mitigation measures.
At the same time, the project has the potential to support local fertiliser production, create jobs, generate government revenue and reduce reliance on imported fertiliser.
The project proposes dredging about 1.7 square kilometres of seabed each year over an initial 20-year period.
In a media release issued on Monday, the Namibian Marine Phosphate says the operation would produce about three million tonnes of phosphate concentrate annually.
NMP says the Sandpiper project has the potential to support a domestic phosphate-based industry, including fertiliser production, jobs and economic activity around Walvis Bay.
The company says the new Environmental Clearance Certificate does not mean mining starts immediately, with additional permits still required for the project's terrestrial component.
NMP says any marine operations will be subject to government oversight, environmental monitoring and independent expert review, including advice from a proposed Marine Environmental Scientific Advisory Committee.
NewsOnOne is reliably informed that senior officials in the ministry were summoned to State House on Monday following the issuance of an Environmental Clearance Certificate to Namibian Marine Phosphate by environmental commissioner Timotheus Mufeti on 6 August valid until 2029.
Ministry spokesperson Vilho Hangula says the ministry is consulting internally on further communication and the way forward.
