Staff Reporter
THE “No Exports Ban” imposed on the Chinese company, Xinfeng Investment, has been temporarily paused as the company has been granted approval to transport crushed lithium ore from their mine to the port of Walvis Bay for export purposes.
This was announced by the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s Chief Public Relations Officer (PRO), who confirmed that this will be a once-off agreement that is effective from 11 to 29 November.
According to the ministry’s Chief PRO, the approval is necessary as arrangements have already been made by the company before the ministry cancelled Xinfeng’s initial report. These arrangements include the contractual agreements with a vessel that was already enroute to Walvis Bay.
“The company will thus be allowed to transport crushed ore to Walvis Bay to export 55 000 tons as per the contractual agreement for the industrial testing, which will inform whether to set up a processing plant at the mine,” the PRO explained.
The ministry confirmed that the “No Exports Ban” will take effect again from 30 November until Xinfeng’s revised mining programme is evaluated and approved.
Xinfeng Investment entered into the local market last year, making headlines for their intention to construct Namibia’s first lithium mine. The company has since been accused of illegally exporting raw materials to China under the guise of laboratory testing, illegal mining activities as well as violating environmental, water and mining protection laws.
Considering the allegations of non-compliance and contravention of license conditions, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, implemented a temporary moratorium on the company, banning its export of lithium ores.
Xinfeng is also involved in the ministry’s recent N$50 million corruption scandal that led to the resignation of the ministry’s technical advisor, Ralph Muyamba.
This is after it came to light that Muyamba allocated an Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) to one of his relatives’ company, Orange River Mining, which was then sold to Xinfeng Investment for N$50 million.
