Mine eyes Ongombo West

COPPER producer Ongopolo Mining and Processing says it plans to approach Government for mining rights at farm Ongombo West after the property has been expropriated.

Ongopolo Managing Director Andre Neethling says parts of the farm, which tops Government’s list of farms to be expropriated for resettlement, has deposits that could help the company increase its production. “There is a known mineral resource on the said farm.It was, however, not economically viable in the past.With new technology and a fresh approach there is some potential,” Neethling told The Namibian.He said Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL), from which Ongopolo took over the copper mines, had been aware of the deposits on Ongombo West, located some 50 km north-east of Windhoek.The Namibian Minerals Act provides for mining at any place on condition that there is an agreement between the land owner and the developer.The Wiese family, which currently owns farm Ongombo West, keeps cattle, grows vegetables and produces arum lilies for export to Germany and The Netherlands.Neethling said Ongopolo had not engaged in any discussions with the Wiese family.However, exploration work has been conducted on the farm.”If Ongopolo was interested in mining we would have to negotiate with the land owner – whoever that may be,” Neethling said.He said Ongombo West was well placed because of its proximity to the Otjihase mine where the ore can be processed before being transported to Tsumeb for final production.When he met the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, in Tsumeb last week, Neethling said Ongopolo’s value had tripled since it started with new operations.However, the last 12 months had proved a bit difficult because of the rand/US dollar exchange rate.Government and the Wiese family are about to finalise a deal for the farm to change ownership under the recently implemented expropriation scheme.The selling of Ongombo West would effectively end four generations of farming by the Wiese family.The farm ended up on the expropriation list after a labour dispute between the farm manager, Andreas Wiese, and six of his workers who were dismissed and later evicted from the land.Andreas Wiese confirmed to The Namibian that his mother, Hilde, under whose name the farm Ongombo West was listed, had informed Government that she was willing to part with the property.Ongombo West is among around 25 white-owned farms that the Government has identified for expropriation.”There is a known mineral resource on the said farm.It was, however, not economically viable in the past.With new technology and a fresh approach there is some potential,” Neethling told The Namibian.He said Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL), from which Ongopolo took over the copper mines, had been aware of the deposits on Ongombo West, located some 50 km north-east of Windhoek.The Namibian Minerals Act provides for mining at any place on condition that there is an agreement between the land owner and the developer.The Wiese family, which currently owns farm Ongombo West, keeps cattle, grows vegetables and produces arum lilies for export to Germany and The Netherlands.Neethling said Ongopolo had not engaged in any discussions with the Wiese family.However, exploration work has been conducted on the farm.”If Ongopolo was interested in mining we would have to negotiate with the land owner – whoever that may be,” Neethling said.He said Ongombo West was well placed because of its proximity to the Otjihase mine where the ore can be processed before being transported to Tsumeb for final production.When he met the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, in Tsumeb last week, Neethling said Ongopolo’s value had tripled since it started with new operations.However, the last 12 months had proved a bit difficult because of the rand/US dollar exchange rate.Government and the Wiese family are about to finalise a deal for the farm to change ownership under the recently implemented expropriation scheme.The selling of Ongombo West would effectively end four generations of farming by the Wiese family.The farm ended up on the expropriation list after a labour dispute between the farm manager, Andreas Wiese, and six of his workers who were dismissed and later evicted from the land.Andreas Wiese confirmed to The Namibian that his mother, Hilde, under whose name the farm Ongombo West was listed, had informed Government that she was willing to part with the property.Ongombo West is among around 25 white-owned farms that the Government has identified for expropriation.