Shell opens at Oranjemund

The town was formerly owned by Namdeb and was a restricted area due to diamond mining operations there.

Since it is now open to the public, the need for a service station became paramount.

The South-End Shell Service Station is an oasis for weary travellers and residents.

Oranjemund mayor Elias Kasemba at the occasion said development and investment opportunities are now more accessible to the public.

He said the development means a lot to the town council, the surrounding community an residents as Oranjemund opens doors for potential investors.

Kasemba invited potential investors and developers to call on his office as land is available for developments like a shopping mall, hospitality establishments, and houses.

“For those who have left the town, now is the time to come back, so you can take part in its development.” he said.

Lazarus Nafidi from Vivo Energy Namibia said Oranjemund is central to Vivo Energy’s operations.

“Namdeb is one of our biggest mining customers, and the town itself resonates with Vivo Energy mainly because it is a border town and many employees of Namdeb live there,” he said.

The town is home to around 4 000 residents.

Oranjemund is prone to environmental damage due to an increase in people travelling there, meaning more waste is generated due to the influx of people.

Vivo Energy therefore also engages the town council in the implementation of a recycling programme.

“This programme will see that around 8% of waste that normally goes to landfills will now be recycled and sent for further processing,” Nafidi said.

This process will be tasked to residents of the town, who will earn an income through the recycling process.

Clearly marked and brightly coloured bins were also installed at South-End for easy and safe disposal of any waste without contaminating the eco-sensitive area.

“Our aim is to make a difference and a bio-impact in the communities we operate in. Oranjemund is one of those areas in which we are trying to do quite a lot of environmental initiatives that will result in big and positive impacts for future generations,” Nafidi said.

It is evident that the new service station is a beacon of hope to many residents as they can now fuel up their cars and even have a late night snack when coming from their mining shifts.

The service station also has a car wash service, and a restaurant and take-away outlet.

All its employees are Oranjemund community members.

Oranjemund is renowned for its beautiful and well-maintained parks and gardens, while oryx roam the town unhindered.

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