Namibia has entered the global niobium arena through the Kameelburg discovery, a carbonatite-hosted deposit now confirmed as the country’s largest niobium resource. Aldoro Resources has defined a maiden inferred resource of 279.9 million tonnes, containing an estimated 0.26 million tonnes of niobium metal.
This milestone positions Namibia as the third-largest holder of niobium resources in Africa, behind Angola’s Luele and Tanzania’s Ngualla projects, and among the world’s top five countries for total mineralised niobium tonnage.
The Kameelburg project, located in northwest Namibia, is wholly owned by ASX-listed Aldoro Resources through Aloe Investments 237 (Pty) Ltd.
What sets the project apart is its scale and simplicity. The resource was delineated from only 12 diamond drill holes out of a 9,500-metre campaign, leaving room for substantial expansion as results from the remaining holes come in.
The deposit is located close to the surface, with minimal overburden, and is accessible via existing infrastructure. This makes it far easier and cheaper to develop than many comparable hard-rock niobium projects globally. Aldoro Chairperson Quinn Li has called the discovery “undeniably of Tier-1 scale,” reflecting the company’s confidence in its long-term value.
The deposit’s history is equally significant. Geological mapping of the Kameelburg carbonatite dates back to the 1960s and 1970s, with early work by AMCOR and the Geological Survey of Namibia highlighting its potential for rare earths and niobium.
A 1971 review by Newmont confirmed the presence of enrichment zones containing niobium, thorium, phosphate, and rare earth elements.
Later exploration by Kinloch Resources in 2012–2013 uncovered rock chips grading up to 4.75% niobium pentoxide and rare earth values as high as 5.56% TREO. These historic datasets were largely shelved until Aldoro acquired the project in 2023, which marked the first systematic commercial exploration of the site.
Kameelburg is not only significant but also strategically important.
Its mineralisation includes supergene enrichment zones, which could deliver higher recoverable grades of niobium and heavy rare earth elements.
Metallurgical recovery studies are scheduled to begin in late 2025, concurrent with maiden drilling at the nearby Omurango Carbonatite, which is believed to host higher-grade niobium mineralisation.
Using cost analogues from Namibia Critical Metals’ Lofdal rare earth project, Kameelburg’s life-of-mine expenditures could reach US$25.7 billion, with an in-situ value exceeding US$4.1 billion at current rare earth basket prices.
These numbers do not yet factor in niobium’s standalone pricing, meaning the ultimate valuation could rise further once recoverability is confirmed.
The project also benefits from decades of accumulated exploration data.
Between 1967 and 1970, the National Institute of Metallurgy conducted bulk sampling, identifying enrichment in niobium, strontium, thorium, and phosphate.
Later programs confirmed magnetic and geochemical signatures consistent with significant mineralisation. Aldoro has built upon this legacy with modern drilling and geophysical surveys, demonstrating that the carbonatite hosts extensive zones of niobium and rare earth oxides.
In global terms, Kameelburg places Namibia firmly among the world’s emerging niobium powers. Brazil remains dominant with more than 25 million tonnes of reserves, followed by Canada’s Niobec deposit with about 1.2 million tonnes and China’s Bayan Obo with 1.45 million tonnes.
Angola’s Luele deposit, with over 2.6 million tonnes, leads Africa, with Tanzania’s Ngualla in second place. Namibia’s 0.26 million tonnes may be smaller.
Still, it is large enough to vault the country into the global top five and make Kameelburg one of the most essential undeveloped niobium projects in the world.
Kameelburg highlights the country’s increasing importance in critical minerals, a trend that coincides with global industries’ efforts to diversify away from Brazil’s dominance.
Niobium is indispensable in strengthening steel, building aerospace components, and enabling superconducting technologies that support medical imaging, energy, and advanced manufacturing.
As demand for these applications grows, Kameelburg gives Namibia a strategic asset that could reshape its role in the global supply chain.
The discovery also underscores the importance of reviving historic exploration through modern scientific methods.
From overlooked reports in the 1970s to a billion-dollar resource in 2025, Kameelburg is a reminder of Namibia’s untapped potential in critical minerals.
If further drilling and metallurgical tests confirm the scale and recovery of niobium, the project could cement Namibia’s place as a cornerstone supplier of one of the world’s most strategic metals.
