Staff Reporter
ERINDI Game Reserve, one of Namibia’s largest private game reserves measuring some 65,000 hectares, has taken the government and a prospecting mining license holder to the High Court to halt any proposed mining activities. They fear that the move would disturb wildlife in the park, such as rhinos and elephants, and lead to the degradation of the reserve’s habitat.
The proposed EPL8325 seeks to mine dimension stone, base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals within the parameters of the reserve.
Otjimakuru Wild (Pty) Ltd, Erindi Ranch (Pty) Ltd, and Rembo Ltd (the foreign owners of Erindi) listed the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism; Minister of Mines and Energy; Environmental Commissioner; Mining Commissioner; Chairperson of the Minerals Ancillary Rights Commission; Lahia Ndinelago Junias, the Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) holder; Government of the Republic of Namibia; and President of the Republic of Namibia as respondents in the matter.
Paul Joubert, General Manager of Otjimakuru Wild and Erindi Ranch, explained that the applicants have reason to be seriously concerned about the manageability of any exploration, prospecting, and/or mining activities and operations if they were to be conducted in the area targeted by the sixth respondent, Lahia Ndinelago Junias.
Joubert added that the reserve only became aware of the existence of the EPL in March this year.
“On 22 March 2024, I received an email sent by a certain Mr. Ivor Kahimise (dated 21 March 2024) to Mr. Stefan Steyn (the manager of Erindi’s Old Traders Lodge). Attached to that email was a document titled ‘Notice to Applicant of Preparedness to Grant Application for Exclusive Prospecting Licence No. 8325.’ When EPL8325 was provided to me on 7 June 2024, it was the first time that I saw EPL8325. The sixth respondent is the holder of EPL8325. The date of issue is 29 September 2022. The date of expiry is 28 September 2025. It is valid for a period of three years. It is issued in respect of ‘dimension stone, base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals’,” Joubert added.
He further mentioned that they were afforded no opportunity whatsoever to make representations to the Minister of Mines or the Mining Commissioner (or anyone else for that matter) before EPL8325 was granted and issued.
“This is despite it being obvious (or at least it should have been obvious) to the decision maker(s) — once EPL8325’s coordinates are plotted — that EPL8325 is entirely enclosed within Erindi. Most of EPL8325 is on Farm Erindi No. 58, and a small portion extends to Farm Otjimakuru No. 62 and adjoins or neighbours Farm Otjikoko-Sud. The applicants were, at no stage, involved or engaged in the process leading up to the granting of EPL8325, nor did they have knowledge concerning the same. On this basis alone, the above relief stands to be granted. Concerning any ‘Environmental Impact Assessment study’ (EIA study) conducted over the area covered by the application for EPL8325, the applicants were not contacted concerning any such study and were afforded no opportunity to make any input or representations concerning any such study. It is also not apparent whether the second respondent even considered whether the EIA study was conducted and what the outcome thereof was before granting EPL8325,” Joubert said.
Joubert added that the exploration, prospecting, and/or mining activities and operations would disturb the wildlife in the area, specifically now that the applicants have, in recent years, introduced about 100 large elephants from the Khaudom into Erindi, and would negatively impact the land and surrounding environment.
“The first and second applicants’ acquisition by its foreign owners — which was the single largest investment into Namibia in 2020 — was made on the basis and premise that Erindi would remain a nature and game reserve, and the third applicant has made relevant commitments to the Government of the Republic of Namibia to make further ongoing investments into Erindi for various nature and wildlife conservation purposes. As far as the applicants are concerned and are aware, no mineral licences will ever be granted — for example — over the Etosha National Park or other national parks or major reserves,” Joubert said.
