The Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine in the //Karas region opened its 31-million dollar storage and shipping facility at Luderitz on Wednesday. The facility, built over seven months, will be used to keep zinc and lead ore for shipment to refineries. The mine started operating during 1969 with an expected lifespan of seven years, but with ongoing exploration, the current lifespan stretches up to 2020. Manager Christo Aspeling says the main ore being mined comprise zinc in bulk, lead, silver and small quantities of copper and gold. Initially, the companys zinc concentrates were exported by rail from Aus to the Zincor Refinery at Springs in South Africa, but that refinery closed down in 2009. The closure prompted Rosh Pinah to use Walvis Bay for export, which was costly and it later opted for Luderitz. On her part, Luderitz Town Mayor Suzan Ndjaleka urged Namport to consider her coastal town as a harbour. Ndjaleka believes such a development will not only benefit the local economy, but will also attract investors. Founding President Sam Nujoma inaugurated the storage and shipping facility and commended the management and the Board for the investment. Nujoma said during the last financial year mining generated approximately 13-billion dollars in export earnings, of which 879-million dollars was collected in royalty payments. The former president accused some individuals employed by Government and parastatals of sabotaging development projects. He warned them that they would be replaced with patriotic and committed men and women who were prepared to serve the country.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 07:02:22 +0000
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