B2Gold Country Manager John Roos said the company’s environmental, social, and governance commitments are designed to outlast the operational life of the Otjikoto Mine, ensuring that the surrounding communities, the economy, and the environment continue to benefit long after mining operations end.
At the heart of this vision is a post-closure plan that will transform 18,000 hectares of mine-linked land into hubs for agriculture, tourism, hunting, and renewable energy generation.
A new B2Gold Foundation will sustain these efforts by providing ongoing funding for community projects.
Since 2019, B2Gold has developed 180 hectares under irrigation, producing approximately 4,000 tonnes of white maize annually—an average yield of about 22 tonnes per hectare.
This output places Otjikoto among Namibia’s most prominent private maize producers.
The farms strengthen national food security and train local farmers in modern irrigation and crop management techniques.
The aim is for these farms to remain productive after mining ceases, generating revenue for the foundation and providing long-term employment.
As mining advances, waste rock dumps are seeded and restored to prevent environmental degradation and enable productive land reuse.
By the end of 2025, all open-pit waste dumps—covering an estimated 120 hectares—will have been fully rehabilitated.
B2Gold has set aside approximately N$300 million for mine closure, ahead of legislative requirements that will compel companies to secure such provisions in advance.
In 2018, B2Gold commissioned a 7MW solar plant, which reduced heavy fuel oil consumption by approximately 2.4 million litres per year, resulting in an estimated annual savings of N$36 million.
The plant also reduced greenhouse gas emissions while supplying roughly 13% of the mine’s electricity needs.
In 2022, Otjikoto connected to the NamPower grid, eliminating the need for on-site HFO generation and increasing renewable input.
Early in 2025, a 10 MW solar plant began operating under Namibia’s first power-wheeling agreement, supplying between 35% and 40% of the mine’s on-site electricity. The plant produces an estimated 8,000 MWh annually and reduces CO₂ emissions by about 5,600 metric tonnes each year.
Between 2015 and 2024, Namibian stakeholders—including the government through taxes, royalties, and export levies, as well as community beneficiaries through CSR spending and local procurement—received 61% of Otjikoto’s N$2.9 billion in revenue, equivalent to approximately N$1.77 billion.
This exceeded the 49% (approximately N$1.13 billion) returned to shareholders.
Local procurement accounted for between 57% and 63% of annual expenditure—around N$400 million per year—excluding shell companies.
Between 2014 and 2024, B2Gold invested N$240 million (approximately US$16.6 million) in projects that support education, healthcare, environmental protection, and livelihoods.
In Otjiwarongo, the Ombili Clinic was built for N$6 million.
The Ombili Primary School, which in 2019 operated from temporary tents, now accommodates over 1,300 learners in modern classrooms equipped with EduVision smart-board technology.
In Otavi, B2Gold has funded water infrastructure to improve access for both households and small-scale farmers.
The Rhino Gold Bar project, launched between 2019 and 2020, donated 1,000 ounces of Otjikoto gold to be minted into collectable bars, raising N$22.8 million for black rhino conservation.
The funds are used to pay the salaries of rhino rangers and support anti-poaching operations.
