The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has called for the environmental clearance certificate (ECC) granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate to be urgently reviewed and set aside.
SPYL says the project could threaten Namibia’s fishing industry and marine environment.
Last week, environmental commissioner Timoteus Mefeti approved the ECC for the Sandpiper Marine Phosphate project led by businessman Knowledge Katti and his business partner, Mohammed Al Barwani, one of Oman’s richest businessmen.
SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo on Friday said the youth league remains opposed to phosphate mining and has maintained this position since 2019.
“We, therefore, call for the urgent review and subsequent setting aside of the environmental clearance certificate awarded for the purpose of phosphate mining,” he said.
Nekongo stated that prioritising the protection of Namibia’s marine resources, fishing industry and livelihoods is essential, outweighing the expected economic benefits from phosphate mining.
SPYL warns that any activity that threatens the fishing sector could have wider consequences for jobs and communities that depend on marine resources.
The youth league has also raised environmental concerns, saying phosphate extraction and processing could result in pollution and damage to marine habitats.
Nekongo said environmental experts have raised concerns about radioactive waste, toxic water pollution and habitat loss linked to phosphate mining.
“Both land-based strip mining and the proposed marine dredging operations carry serious risks to ecosystems and to local communities who depend on healthy marine environments for their survival,” he said.
