QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine (Pty) Ltd has applied to amend its environmental clearance certificate to proceed with Phase 2 underground mining, following the success of its trial underground project, Project //Khaima.
The expansion, evaluated in a detailed environmental and social impact assessment by Environmental Compliance Consultancy (Pty) Ltd (ECC), also includes the construction of a third explosives magazine and is expected to create more than 150 new jobs while extending the mine’s operational life to 2036, with processing continuing until 2045.
The amendment application is made under the Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007) and its 2012 Regulations, covering Mining Licence 31 (ML 31) on Navachab Farm No. 58, roughly 180 km northwest of Windhoek and 10 km from Karibib in the Erongo Region.
The current environmental clearance certificate, issued on 19 December 2022, remains valid until 19 December 2025, but a renewal has been submitted with updated impact assessments and an Operational Environmental Management Plan.
The new application updates the 2021 amendment report to include Phase II of the underground exploration drive and full-scale underground mining.
It also covers the installation of an additional explosives magazine designed to store 40,000 kg of ANFO (ammonium nitrate and fuel oil), positioned between two existing magazines used in open-pit operations.
Public consultation, a legal requirement under Section 21 of the Environmental Management Act, has been carried out with relevant ministries, local authorities, and affected communities.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) will issue a Record of Decision upon the conclusion of the review period.
Navachab’s transition to underground mining began in 2019, when feasibility studies by JDS Energy and Mining Inc. and underground contractor Byrnecut Mining evaluated the potential to mine at depth.
In 2021, the mine launched Project //Khaima, a trial initiative involving a 5.5 m x 5.5 m portal drive, 3,948 metres of development, and 17,121 metres of diamond drilling, supported by around 90 external contractors. The N$160 million trial confirmed that underground extraction was technically viable and economically sound.
Following its success, Navachab secured US$155 million (approximately N$2.9 billion) in financing to develop a whole underground operation and upgrade mine infrastructure.
Since the trial’s completion, the company has invested over US$30 million (about N$545 million) in exploration and process upgrades, including the installation of a Swiss Tower Mills VPM10 vertical mill to improve throughput and gold recovery.
This strategic expansion is projected to extend mining operations by 3 years and processing activities by another 3, ensuring Navachab’s continued contribution to Namibia’s economy for the next 2 decades.
Phase 2 of the underground project will involve a 170-metre surface ventilation raise for improved underground airflow, stoping operations using the sublevel open stoping (SLOS) method, continued mine development and additional exploration drilling, raise-bored ventilation connections linking the North and Main Shoots, and a series of interconnected exhaust drop raises for efficient air circulation.
The five-year contract will create 150 new jobs during the execution period.
Access will be developed from portals within the existing pits—one from the 950-metre bench in the south pit and another from the 1,040-metre bench in the north pit—totalling over 5,000 metres of decline and ancillary development.
Mining will rely on automated drilling and loading systems, including the Sandvik DD422i jumbo and TH663i haul trucks, operated either manually or via tele-remote systems.
Strict safety standards have been embedded into the design, in line with Byrnecut’s operational protocols for rock bolting, meshing, and portal stabilisation.
The mine will also continue biannual noise and air quality monitoring under ECC supervision, ensuring compliance with national and IFC environmental guidelines.
The underground expansion represents a significant economic lifeline for Karibib and the wider Erongo Region, where unemployment—though below the national average—remains a challenge for residents without mining-related skills.
The project’s creation of about 150 permanent jobs and temporary contractor positions during construction will inject new income into the local economy and reduce poverty.
Increased wages and local procurement are expected to stimulate small business growth in transport, catering, accommodation, and maintenance, creating indirect jobs and supporting household livelihoods.
These benefits, the ECC report notes, will strengthen the socio-economic resilience of communities in the Erongo Region through job creation and income growth.
The project is also set to generate long-term human capital development through specialised training and upskilling of mine workers in underground technology and safety systems.
Once trained, these skills will remain a permanent asset to the workforce, enhancing employability and technical capacity in Namibia’s mining sector.
The training and upskilling of workers to operate underground mining technologies and manage specialised equipment are expected to contribute significantly to long-term human capital development in the region.
By providing employees with advanced technical skills and practical experience in modern underground mining operations, the initiative will enhance workforce competence, productivity and safety standards.
These skills not only improve individual career prospects but also increase the employability of workers within the broader mining sector and other technical industries.
Over time, the development of a highly skilled local workforce can attract additional investment, support the growth of local businesses and foster innovation in the region.
Furthermore, the emphasis on continuous learning and professional development will strengthen community capacity, empower youth and women through targeted training programs and contribute to sustainable socio-economic development by building a durable pool of technical expertise in the Erongo Region.
At a national scale, the N$4 billion expansion will make a substantial contribution to Namibia’s GDP and regional development.
At current gold prices of about N$44,650 per ounce, the in-situ value of Navachab’s gold resources exceeds N$60 billion.
By mid-2025, the mine had already contributed N$750 million in taxes and royalties to the Namibian government, in addition to N$486 million in wages and N$7 million in training expenditure reported by the Chamber of Mines.
By boosting gold production, creating employment and increasing demand for local goods and services, the project will stimulate economic activity both nationally and within the Erongo Region.
Additional benefits from wages, procurement and business opportunities are expected to drive local enterprise growth and provide resources for reinvestment in public infrastructure and social services.
The expansion is also likely to attract further investment, strengthen regional supply chains and promote broader industrial and community development.
Overall, the project is poised to support sustained economic growth, enhance livelihoods, and contribute to long-term socio-economic development in Namibia.
While economic prospects are promising, ECC’s assessment also recognises potential social pressures. The influx of job seekers and contractors could strain Karibib’s already limited housing, healthcare, water, and education infrastructure.
Public facilities are often understaffed and overburdened, resulting in long travel distances to medical care.
ECC recommends proactive infrastructure upgrades, coordination with local authorities, and adherence to Navachab’s Operational Environmental Management Plan to mitigate these risks.
There is also recognition that job opportunities might not always be equitably distributed among women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
Without inclusive employment strategies, the benefits of mining could deepen existing inequalities or contribute to social issues such as gender-based violence and substance abuse.
The OEMP therefore prescribes targeted recruitment, gender-sensitive policies, and community awareness programmes to ensure fair access and prevent marginalisation.
The environmental report concludes that the underground expansion is technically feasible, environmentally sound, and socially beneficial.
While the project carries temporary risks such as dust emissions and limited infrastructure strain, its long-term advantages outweigh potential impacts.
By investing in deeper mining, new technology, and people, QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine aims not only to sustain production but to anchor the town of Karibib’s economy well beyond the next decade.
The mine’s future now lies below the surface, where the promise of continued gold output meets Namibia’s commitment to sustainable, responsible mining.
