At Swakop Uranium’s Husab Mine, employees are regarded as the company’s greatest resource — and 2024 proved a year of active engagement, wellness, and learning for the more than 1,600-strong workforce.
Through a full calendar of sports, wellness, and training initiatives, the mine strengthened its culture of teamwork, health, and personal development under the banner of “More Than Mining.”
Swakop Uranium’s annual Sports Day drew close to 700 employees and their families, creating a vibrant day of competition, relaxation, and camaraderie. The company said the event is “a welcome break from the usual work cycle,” designed to promote wellness, interdepartmental unity, and team spirit across its operations.
Beyond the company gates, the Husab Marathon, held on 7 September 2024, celebrated both wellness and international friendship. The event — the seventh consecutive edition — attracted over 1,000 runners from Namibia and Southern Africa, blending sports with social purpose and cultural exchange.
Held shortly after the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, the marathon underscored the spirit of partnership between China and Namibia, with Swakop Uranium incorporating traditional Chinese cultural elements and community themes.
The race featured distances of 5 km, 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km, as well as dedicated categories for children and persons with disabilities.
A remarkable 5 km awareness run highlighted mental health, promoting compassion, inclusion, and public understanding. For every participant, Swakop Uranium pledged N$30, raising over N$30,000 for local charities supporting vulnerable groups.
The company’s sports culture extended beyond its own events — Swakop Uranium’s team proudly earned second place for Best Team Spirit at the 2024 Chamber of Mines Inter-Mines Sports Games.
Swakop Uranium’s Employee Wellness Office remains a cornerstone of the company’s human capital strategy. The office supports the mental, emotional, and financial well-being of workers, offering services such as substance abuse support, psychological counselling, and health promotion.
Through its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), staff and their families have access to free, confidential counselling to address stress, grief, depression, or financial strain. Regular awareness sessions cover topics such as workplace bullying, stress management, addiction, and financial wellness, while the company’s medical aid includes mental health coverage, with access to specialists, therapy, and rehabilitation centres.
Swakop Uranium also maintained its commitment to professional development, investing in bursaries, internships, and international training. In 2024, total spending on skills development exceeded N$26 million, covering bursaries, graduate programmes, external training, and in-house courses.
Over 988 employees participated in training sessions spanning occupational safety, mine operations, and equipment optimisation.
The company also runs a Self-Study Assistance Scheme, which supported 30 employees in pursuing further education, while 15 employees attended the CGN Egret Leadership and URC International Uranium Talent Training Programme in China.
A leadership exchange visit to Haerwusu Mine in Inner Mongolia — one of Asia’s most significant and safest coal operations — gave Swakop Uranium’s senior managers insights into global best practices in maintenance, shift management, and innovation.
In December 2024, Swakop Uranium hosted 178 visitors, including 169 first-year engineering students from the University of Namibia, for an educational tour of the Husab Mine. The visit offered students a firsthand look at mining processes, safety systems, and electrical infrastructure, providing valuable insight into Namibia’s industrial environment.
That same year, the company organised a Skills Competition in which employees demonstrated technical expertise across departments, boosting morale and reinforcing teamwork.
One student, supported through Swakop Uranium’s scholarship programme, reflected on the visit:
“It was an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience and professional knowledge. Visiting Husab for the first time, I was inspired by its complex electrical systems and hope to build my career in this dynamic and technologically advanced environment.”
Through sports, wellness programmes, and education, Swakop Uranium continues to strengthen its human capital base. From the Husab Marathon’s charitable cause to skills exchanges in China and employee development initiatives, the company’s efforts demonstrate that mining success depends not only on tonnes of uranium — but on the people who make it possible.
