On the north-western edges of Opuwo, along the Okanihova structural lineament in the central Kaoko Basin, the Steilrand Barite Project is advancing toward small-scale commercial extraction.
The project, held under mining claims MC 70070 to MC 70073, is being developed by proponent Jacobus Petrus Smit.
Barite mineralisation was identified in a 1–6 m wide horizon striking east-west along the Steilrand Mountains, following a fold structure in the Okanihova lineament over a distance of at least 6 km.
Two grades of barite were discovered during reconnaissance work and bulk sampling, enough to support a proposed quarry operation.
The combined mining claims cover about 72 hectares, with each claim roughly 18 hectares.
In December 2021, an EIA scoping report was submitted, outlining the intended quarry operation and the environmental baseline.
The plan envisions a 10-year operational life for the quarry under current demand assumptions, although the document notes production rates may vary with market conditions.
Over that period, the proponent aims to produce 5,000 to 10,000 tonnes per annum of barite from the Steilrand claims.
The quarrying method would involve drilling and blasting, with crushed barite processed on site in an accessory works yard.
Existing access roads would be used and upgraded where needed to accommodate heavy vehicles and machinery, minimising new land disturbance.
The operation would emphasise environmental management, dust control, waste rock handling, and rehabilitation in line with the environmental management plan (EMP) to be submitted with the ECC application.
Barite’s importance lies in its wide range of industrial applications.
The mineral is most critical to the oil and gas industry, where it is used as a weighting agent in drilling muds to control subsurface pressures.
It also finds uses in paints, plastics, rubber, and paper as a filler and pigment, as well as in the medical field as a radiopaque material for diagnostic imaging.
Namibia’s proximity to offshore oil exploration markets in southern Africa provides a potential ready outlet for the Steilrand product, while exports to South Africa’s industrial sector could offer additional opportunities.
Though small compared to major metal mines, the Steilrand Barite Project is significant in its niche.
Its targeted production would diversify Namibia’s mineral output and underline the Kaoko Belt’s resource potential beyond base metals.
The project is currently awaiting the issuance of its Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) and completion of additional permitting steps before construction and production can commence.
Smit’s small-scale barite quarry could add industrial mineral diversity to the Kaoko Belt’s mining portfolio, reinforcing the region’s evolving role in Namibia’s broader resource economy.
