Gibb River Diamonds Limited (GIB) says it has now grown doubtful about the status of its Erongo and Kunene projects in Namibia, after a year of waiting for exploration licences.
The company’s Erongo Uranium Project covers two Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) applications—9924 and 10131—spanning 47.6 km² in the Erongo Uranium District, a region that hosts significant deposits including Langer Heinrich Mine and the Tumas Deposit.
GIB also holds four further EPL applications in the Kunene region—10120, 10121, 10122, and 10191—bringing its total Namibian footprint to 1,828 km².
GIB submitted the studies required for the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for Erongo in October 2024. The ECC covers environmental, heritage, and consultation approvals required before the grant of the EPLs.
Although GIB had anticipated a 5–6 month permitting timeline, the company reports that as of the end of the recent quarter, the permits remain in “application” status and have not been granted.
Further complicating matters, GIB says that part of EPL 9924 – its far-eastern block – no longer appears in the Namibian EDN government system as part of its application area, raising tenure ambiguity. EPL 10131 is unaffected, but the uncertainty around 9924 has deepened the company’s concerns.
“Our board currently considers the permit status to be uncertain,” GIB said in its latest ASX release. Both the Erongo and Kunene EPLs remain at 100% beneficial interest to GIB, with none disposed of or acquired during the quarter.
GIB says the Erongo permits are highly prospective for calcrete-palaeochannel uranium mineralisation, targeting styles similar to nearby deposits.
The Kunene tenements target Karoo-formation roll-front uranium mineralisation. But without granted licences and ECC clearance, the company cannot commence drilling or full ground access.
Namibian authorities have discretion over the timing of the grant and clearance. GIB says it is actively seeking clarification on why the delay has persisted and on the outstanding steps.
The company says the uncertain tenure significantly affects its exploration schedule and investor confidence.
By contrast, progress at GIB’s Ellendale Diamond Project in Western Australia has been notably faster and more predictable.
There, the company has advanced from permitting to active mine development within clear regulatory timelines under the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
At Ellendale, GIB has already completed site rehabilitation, bulk sampling, and the marketing of gem-quality fancy yellow diamonds from historical stockpiles — all within structured compliance and reporting cycles.
The disparity highlights the differing regulatory environments faced by junior explorers operating across jurisdictions. While Australia’s mining approval process remains comparatively efficient and transparent, Namibia’s system—though robust in environmental oversight—has become increasingly slow in finalising licence grants, leaving explorers such as GIB in prolonged uncertainty over project timelines and capital planning.
GIB says it remains committed to its Namibian uranium assets but will continue to prioritise progress at Ellendale, where the company has greater operational control and clearer pathways to production.
