Rosh Pinah Zinc has secured a US$150 million (about N$2.8b) debt facility underwritten by Standard Bank to complete its long-awaited expansion project.
The financing will enable the mine, located in southern Namibia, to advance its Rosh Pinah 2.0 (RP2.0) project, designed to nearly double production capacity and extend the mine’s life.
RP2.0 represents a significant upgrade of the mine’s infrastructure and processing capacity.
The project will increase throughput from the current 0.7 million tonnes per annum to 1.3 million tonnes per annum, encompassing the construction of new processing facilities, a paste-fill plant to enhance ground stability and ore recovery, and a water-treatment plant to improve efficiency and environmental performance.
A new portal and decline will provide access to deeper ore bodies, while the expansion is also tied to the Rosh Pinah Solar Park, which is being increased from 5.4 MWp to 16.3 MWp to supply nearly a third of the mine’s electricity.
The investment is expected to transform production, with annual output forecast to rise to about 170 million pounds of contained zinc, up from roughly 100 million pounds today.
By introducing renewable energy into its operations, RP2.0 will also reduce energy costs by nearly 8% and cut carbon emissions by an estimated 14,000 tonnes per year.
Originally commissioned in 1969, the Rosh Pinah mine is now majority-owned by Appian Capital Advisory, which acquired a 90% interest in 2023 and re-energised the expansion.
The mine currently processes around 2,000 tonnes of ore per day, but RP2.0 will expand both processing and mining horizons, unlocking deeper zones such as WF3.
Construction has already achieved significant milestones, with completion targeted for Q3 2026, followed by ramp-up to full production.
The expansion aligns with Namibia’s broader vision of developing a globally competitive mining sector that incorporates modern technology, renewable energy, and sustainability objectives.
